October 4, 2012
“The first peace, which is the most important, is that which comes within the souls of people when they realize their oneness with the universe and all its powers, and when they realize at the center of the universe dwells the Great Spirit, and that its center is really everywhere, within each of us.”
Hehaka Sapa (Black Elk) 1863-1950
Born into the Oglala Lakota (Sioux) Nation, Black Elk had visions and claimed contact with the spirit world from an early age. He fought the US Army in the battles at Little Big Horn and Wounded Knee, but later joined Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show, touring the US and England re-enacting those same battles. Twice married, he had six children, and was revered among his people as a holy man and sacred jester. In 1932 his life story was published as Black Elk Speaks, by John Neihardt, from which the above quote is taken. In the Lakota language Wakan Tanka is often translated into English as ‘Great Spirit’, but according to Native American activist Russell Means, its meaning is closer to ‘Great Mystery’.