This semester, we are reading Black Elk Speaks, a book narrated by Black Elk, but also translated, edited and revised by John Neihardt. So, like so many sources on Native American culture, our view of Black Elk and the Lakota people is filtered through John Neihardt’s experiences and point of view.
For this week’s discussion, I’d like you to consider some of the implications of learning about Black Elk and the Lakota through Neihardt. What are some potential problems with a source that’s been translated and revised, as what are some of the strengths of such an account? Bear in mind, Neihardt is a white scholar who lived and worked among the Lakota and other Great Plains tribes for decades, eventually forging very strong (usually positive) relationships with the folks he studied.