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Reciprocity and Power in Native American Culture: A Study of Black Elk's Visions - Prof. C, Exams of World Religions

This essay explores the theme of reciprocity in native american life, focusing on black elk's visions and the role of power and ritual in lakota society. How visions are transformed into powers, the importance of sharing and harmony between two-leggeds and four-leggeds, and the cost of receiving divine gifts.

Typology: Exams

2009/2010

Uploaded on 12/08/2010

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Nate Nesbit Essay #1
Black Elk Speaks
“The theme of reciprocity (that) permeates so many aspects of Native American life”
(Brown 12).
When Brown says here that reciprocity permeates all aspects of the lives of Native
Americans he does in fact mean every single facet of their lives from waking up in the morning
to interpreting visions and acting out rituals. Most of the aspects of Native American life that
deal with this give-take “circle of life” relationship are simply things that we would refer to as
“going green” in our day and age. While this does speak to the way of the Lakota tribe, the idea
of reciprocity surrounds and infuses everything that they do. Reciprocity is the central theme to
not only Black Elk’s visions but, also to the entire method of dream interpretation and the
implementation of powers in the Native American society.
In chapter 18 Black Elk speaks about how visions can be transformed into powers that
care used to the benefit of the tribe. The one who has seen the vision “is not able to use the
power of it until after he has performed the vision of earth for the people to see” (Neilhardt 157).
The one who is to become powerful cannot use their power unless they first share it with the
entire village. The power, which originates from the four corners/grandfathers/powers of the
earth (Wakan Tanka), is spread among the two-leggeds. The ritual that the two-leggeds perform
so that the power may be inherited also involves the four-leggeds who are the givers of life and
much respected by the two-leggeds. This harmony between the two-leggeds and the four-leggeds
pleases Wakan Tanka and the Lakota continue to be granted visions by Wakan Tanka. This cycle
is essential to all the visions that have been experienced by the Lakota throughout their long
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Nate Nesbit Essay # Black Elk Speaks “The theme of reciprocity (that) permeates so many aspects of Native American life” (Brown 12). When Brown says here that reciprocity permeates all aspects of the lives of Native Americans he does in fact mean every single facet of their lives from waking up in the morning to interpreting visions and acting out rituals. Most of the aspects of Native American life that deal with this give-take “circle of life” relationship are simply things that we would refer to as “going green” in our day and age. While this does speak to the way of the Lakota tribe, the idea of reciprocity surrounds and infuses everything that they do. Reciprocity is the central theme to not only Black Elk’s visions but, also to the entire method of dream interpretation and the implementation of powers in the Native American society. In chapter 18 Black Elk speaks about how visions can be transformed into powers that care used to the benefit of the tribe. The one who has seen the vision “is not able to use the power of it until after he has performed the vision of earth for the people to see” (Neilhardt 157). The one who is to become powerful cannot use their power unless they first share it with the entire village. The power, which originates from the four corners/grandfathers/powers of the earth (Wakan Tanka), is spread among the two-leggeds. The ritual that the two-leggeds perform so that the power may be inherited also involves the four-leggeds who are the givers of life and much respected by the two-leggeds. This harmony between the two-leggeds and the four-leggeds pleases Wakan Tanka and the Lakota continue to be granted visions by Wakan Tanka. This cycle is essential to all the visions that have been experienced by the Lakota throughout their long

history as a free tribe. Black Elk’s visions and inheritance of powers also a part of this cycle but, the theme is even more intricately woven in the visions of this particular Lakota medicine man. Black Elk shares his first two visions with us; the first about the men from the north who became geese and flew away to the west, and the second one being his greatest vision. The first vision does little other than to set up the great vision; it is, for Black Elk, an omen of things to come. In the great vision that Black Elk experiences, there are both physical and spiritual appearances of reciprocity. It is made plainly aware to us as soon as Black Elk’s story begins that he was a powerful and influential member of the Lakota tribe and that can be ascribed directly to the power of this vision he had before he was even matured as a warrior in the tribe. In his vision Black Elk received a gift from each of the six grandfathers but, as reciprocity shows us, nothing can be freely taken without something being offered in return. Although these powers and items were given as gifts to Black Elk he was also bestowed with different burdens as well. The first grandfather gives him both the powers to live and to destroy but doesn’t tell him how these should be used. As if that power wasn’t godly enough, the sixth grandfather tells Black Elk, “my power shall be yours” (Neilhardt 12). All of these wonderful symbolic gifts are given to him but they come at a steep cost, Black Elk must give over his life to Wakan Tanka in a way that no other Lakota has before. Before sharing any of his visions with his tribe his close friends and family became concerned about his behavior, going as far as to say “he was not like a boy. He was more like an old man” (Neilhardt 40). As he eventually shared his visions with his people Black Elk began to have more and more power which led to greater responsibility. Black Elk was a conduit to the will and powers of Wakan Tanka, he described it as being “a hole through which the