Black Elk - Elijah

Black Elk was born in December 1863 into the Lakota tribe as well as a long line of “shamans”, or medicine men. When he was only 9 years old he suffered from a life threatening illness. It was then when he had the “Great Vision”. In the vision he experienced the spiritual center of the Lakota world and also learned of The Great Mysteriousness expressed in the power of the four directions. Following this experience Black Elk spent the rest of his life utilizing this gift by preserving the unity and survival of people. Black Elk soon began his career as a shamanic healer in Montana.


A boyhood friend of Black Elk requested for him to convert to Catholicism. He put off the request for a long time until eventually recognizing Christ as the true “Red Road”. Black Elk spent years traveling as a catechist for Roman Catholicism. It was his passion to help people and spread the word of God. Even though he suffered ridicule from some, he was highly revered by others as a very holy man of God.


Black Elk was married twice both of them having died. In those marriages he had 4 sons and a daughter. He depended on his third child Benjamin to take care of him in his later stages of life once diagnosed with tuberculosis. He later died on August 17, 1950.