Heyoka black elk speaks12/11/2023 ![]() ![]() Grandma's 1943 public display was no doubt for a parade largely spurred by World War II American patriotism: "Hey, let's get some local Injuns all dressed up in full regalia, too!"as further "moral support" (and with perhaps the implicit understanding that these "defeated people" are fine reminders of the U.S. simulation, my grandmother's photo (from 1943) might serve as a clarifying metaphor since it is, in many ways, analogous.ġ) Both book and picture are ostensibly authentic, at first glance: "they are both Indians, after allso why wouldn't their self-representations be valid?"Ģ) On second glance, however, the fact that Grandma is wearing a traditional male headdress is entirely inauthentic and I would suggest (as others have) that there are places in BES where just such a second-glance "what the h-?" occurs.ģ) Note, too, how both are very much situated in a moment of Western-Civ. Regarding Black Elk Speaks and the questions of authenticity vs. "Grandma's Photo" (notes towards a "personal essay" of mine, perhaps) Peterson) essay on Black Elk's religious syncretism See also "The Two Masks of Nicholas Black Elk" (Bruce A. Other central sources: DeMallie's The Sixth Grandfather (1984) Joseph Epes Brown's The Sacred Pipe (1953) But the debate continues: was Black Elk a "traditionalist whose Catholicism was insincere," a "sincere convert who relapsed into traditionalism upon meeting Neihardt," or a sincere "dual participant" in both (204-205)? government's ban on the Sun Dance (1883-1934), and its begrudging recognition of the Native American Church (182), another Christian/Native syncretism. ≪t last, there has been great CONTROVERSY regarding what Black Elk "really believed." For one thingand rather amazinglyit was Black Elk's insistence (elsewhere?!) on the compatibility of "Christianity and traditional religion" that "helped create the context of official tolerance" that led to the end of the U.S. Lakota wicasa waka ("medicine man")≫UT: conversion to Catholicism, 1904 (ergo, Nicholas as "Christian" name even became a Catechist !) Tuberculosis since at least 1912 later, failing eyesight, eventual blindness Oglala LakotaPine Ridge Reservation: Manderson, SD (N of Pine Ridge & just NW of Wounded Knee) * Nicholas Black Elk (Heh'aka Sapa)≡863-1950 (1881-1973): former Nebraska poet laureate (1921 to death) beside BES, best known for his five-part "Old West" epic, A Cycle of the West (p. 10th:: Syllabus/course introduction Neihardt/Black Elk introduction ** Black Elk Speaks: (some) background info** Note: Highlighted author names are linked to each respective author's entry on my Authors & Readings Links page, for further research on your part. ![]() However, this page has a further usefulness: by "Commentary," I mean that some points in these class notes are expanded upon (and re-organized) in ways that our limited class timeand my rather manic teaching stylemay have disallowed. . . NOTE: I am intentionally brief, even abbreviatory, in the following NOTES because I mean them to function as reminders & sources of review rather than to serve in lieu of coming to class: they DON'T. ![]()
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