Black Elk Speaks

The ghost dance is a Native American spiritual ceremony whose popularity spreads amidst Native American tribes during 1889 and 1890. The dances play a central role in the final chapters of the book, and the narrative explores the wide-ranging ramifications the ghost dance has for Native Americans. For many Native Americans, including Black Elk, the ghost dance is a powerful symbol of hope for a struggling people. The ghost dance first spreads following the preaching of Wovoka, who claims that a new world is arriving “just like a cloud,” where “all the dead Indians were alive, and all the bison that had ever been killed were roaming around again” (179). Wovoka preaches that Native Americans must practice ghost dance ceremonies in order to be accepted into this coming world when the time comes.

The ghost dance spreads amongst Native Americans during a time when the Wasichus have all but completely eradicated their culture. Many tribes, such as the Lakota, are starving due to a lack of resources from the killing of the bison. The ghost dance serves as a last hope for these tribes, promising a rejuvenation of old Native American customs.