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bookguide · 2 years

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Nicholas Black Elk: Medicine Man, Missionary, Mystic

Author: Michael F. Steltenkamp

Book: 1/1

Genre: biography

Summary: Nicholas Black Elk: Medicine Man, Missionary, Mystic, tells the full interpretive story of Black Elk. Steltenkamp shows that Black Elk was not the native traditionalist others have depicted him to be, but rather a religious thinker with a positive outlook that merged Lakota ideas with Christianity. This text tells of Black Elk’s travels, visions, experience in the Battle of Little Big Horn, and the way he led his people along the path of God.

Review: I immediately pulled this book off the shelf when I saw it’s title. Quick fun fact: I attend school in the Black Hills area of South Dakota and I have personally hiked Black Elk Trail in Custer State Park. It is absolutely gorgeous. Since I have been in some of places that Black Elk has walked, I was eager to learn about his story. Steltenkamp’s telling of Black Elk’s story provided in-depth details, as well as parts of his story that many authors did not want to tell. Previous biographies about Black Elk only tell of his pre-Christian life while practicing Lakota traditions. However, Black Elk wanted his story as a missionary and his family’s involvement in their church to be told. Steltenkamp gives the reader the background of other authors’ stories and this lack of truly understanding Black Elk as a Christian. Steltenkamp fully immerses the reader into Black Elk’s life as a medicine man, heyoka, missionary, and an important figure in the church. This book contains lots of information, some parts more entertaining than others; I would recommend this book to anyone who loves history, non-fiction, and learning about other cultural experiences.

I included photos I took at Black Elk Peak, enjoy the view!

Rating: 5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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settledthingsstrange · 2 years

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