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Title: Black Elk: The Sacred Ways of a Lakota by Elk Wallace Black ISBN: 0-06-250074-0 Publisher: Harper SanFrancisco Pub. Date: 01 March, 1991 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.75 (12 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Excellent intro into Lakota spirituality
Comment: It is rather interesting to see the controversy surrounding Wallace Black Elk and his activities. Although Wallace is a Rosebud medicine man with impeccable credentials, he has become too well known and that means he has broken an unspoken taboo that cannot be forgiven within his community. Many Native Americans, like so many other peoples (indigenous or not) simply cannot tolerate the success of one of their own and are prepared to do anything to bring them down. After all, a true member of the tiospaye is supposed to be self-effacing, humble, generous... and poor.
I cannot be a judge of Black Elk's character. But I know a good thing when I see it. Anyone who has had even remote experience of Lakota healing ceremonies will know immediately that with this book we are given a great gift. The book will be useful to all who want to understand social and ceremonial aspects of Lakota life and the practical manifestation of their worldview and religious practice. God knows that our country and our planet are in need of these teachings. We get highly useful descriptions of major rituals, such as the Kettle Dance, the sweat lodge and the "vision quest"; more importantly, we get an intimate glimpse into a Lakota medicine man's relationship with his spirit helpers and guides and with his sacred pipe (Chanunpa). The book bristles with the reverence for the pipe and with acknowledgement that the medicine man is only a channel ("a hollow bone") for the Spirit. There can be no question about Black Elk's credentials, about the validity and importance of his experiences and his ability to heal people through sacred Lakota ceremonies.
The book is also funny in a way that Lakota themselves can be funny by being at the same time self-deprecatory and self-congratulatory. Black Elk obviously enjoyed the process of describing his experiences; he also inserts a few pages on his encounters with unindentified flying objects and their denizens but I suggest the reader checks this out for herself.
In short, this is a warm, informative and rewarding book that addresses crucial elements of Lakota religious life through the words of an authentic practitioner. It glows with gratitude to Great Spirit, Mother Earth and the Chanunpa. I recommend it.
Rating: 5
Summary: Don't just stand there, do something.
Comment: How easily some are driven to passionate criticism of someone who could teach them.
If you don't read the book, look for the movie.
I am sure that Black Elk needs even more people in addition to Wallace Black Elk to spread the knowledge and the reverence to the Earth.
To criticize Wallace Black Elk objecting to Christians is like criticizing Jews for objecting to Nazis. Such was the effect, except onehundredfold: worldwide genocide, pillage, suppression, slavery and dominion of millions.
Wallace Black Elk opens our eyes to the brutal truth, the unspeakable and unpaid debt Christianity has to all indigenous people.
Rating: 1
Summary: Stay FAR FAR away from him
Comment: Wallace Running AKA so-called Wallace "Black Elk" actually has nothing to do with the famous Black Elk. Wallace claims to have taught Einstein, believes aliens built the pyramids, and hates Christians with a passion. The REAL Black Elk was a Catholic and never bought and sold ceremonies. Wallace is no elder, he is a New Ager plain and simple, and a pariah among his own people for being a sellout.
This book has little to do with the Lakotas, those wanting to learn are better served by reading Deloria's God Is Red, or Playing Indian.
To Maria, spare us all your cloying and clumsy attempts at converting us to the New Age gospel. As long as you support ecxploiters like Wallace Running, you can not be our sister and we are not your brothers.
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