Black Elk, Wallace

Black Elk, Wallace
(1921–2004)
   An Oglala Lakota who conducted healing and shamanic rituals both for Native and non-Native Americans. His conversations with William Lyon (beginning in 1978) led to the publication of Black Elk: The Sacred Ways of a Lakota (1990), a series of anecdotes about becoming and being a Lakota shaman. In 1973 he and his wife, Grace, were among the first elders to support the occupation of Wounded Knee (site of one of the last massacres of Native Americans by the U.S. military in 1890) by a “Warrior Society” of Native activists of many Nations that became the American Indian Movement (AIM). He is also credited with having been instrumental in the passing of the American Indian Religious Freedom Act in 1978. Nonetheless, his willingness to teach a version of Lakota spirituality and neo-shamanism to non-Native people, especially those labeled “Rainbow Warriors,” led to his naming in AIM’s 1984 resolution against those considered disrespectful and exploitative of sacred ceremonies and of the clients they charge to participate. Groups and websites such as Gohiyuhi/Respect and Center for SPIRIT list him among “frauds” and “plastic medicine people.” His take on these conflicting assessments (apart from an encouragement not to engage in conflict) was that he aimed to preserve a “sacred way” while making it accessible to all. The two phases of his life may be marked by his close relationships first with Leonard Crow Dog and then with Sun Bear (Vincent LaDuke). He was not, as he and others have sometimes claimed, the grandnephew of Nicholas Black Elk.

Historical dictionary of shamanism. . 2007.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Black Elk Speaks — is a 1932 story of an Oglala Sioux medicine man as told by John Neihardt. Black Elk s son, Ben Black Elk, translated Black Elk s words from Lakota into English [ [http://muse.jhu.edu/login?uri=/journals/studies in american indian… …   Wikipedia

  • Black Hills — This article is about the region in South Dakota. For other places, see Black Hills (disambiguation). The Black Hills, South Dakot …   Wikipedia

  • Black Moshannon State Park — Geobox Protected Area name = Black Moshannon State Park native name = other name = other name1 = category local = Pennsylvania State Park category iucn = III image size = 300 image caption = View of bog and lake from the bog trail in the Black… …   Wikipedia

  • Parc national Elk Island — Bison broutant à Elk Island Catégorie UICN II (parc national) Pays …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Parc national d'Elk Island — Parc national Elk Island Parc national Elk Island Catégorie II de la CMAP (Parc national) Pays  Canada Province …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Parc national elk island — Catégorie II de la CMAP (Parc national) Pays  Canada Province …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Bibliography —    As the scope of the dictionary entries and extent of this bibliography make clear, there is a huge range of literature on shamans, from introductory works, general discussions on such topics as definition, and culture specific ethnographic… …   Historical dictionary of shamanism

  • Battle of the Little Bighorn — Coordinates: 45°33′54″N 107°25′44″W / 45.565°N 107.42889°W / 45.565; 107.42889 …   Wikipedia

  • 20. Jh. — Portal Geschichte | Portal Biografien | Aktuelle Ereignisse | Jahreskalender ◄ | 18. Jh. | 19. Jh. | 20. Jahrhundert | 21. Jh.     1900er | 1910er | 1920er | 1930er | 1940er | 1950er | 1960er | 1970er | 1980er | 1990er Das 20. Jahrhundert begann… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Zwanzigstes Jahrhundert — Portal Geschichte | Portal Biografien | Aktuelle Ereignisse | Jahreskalender ◄ | 18. Jh. | 19. Jh. | 20. Jahrhundert | 21. Jh.     1900er | 1910er | 1920er | 1930er | 1940er | 1950er | 1960er | 1970er | 1980er | 1990er Das 20. Jahrhundert begann… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”