Black Elk
1863 – 1950

Black Elk

Oglala Lakota leader (1863–1950)

traditional leader or chiefHeyokamedicine manhealer
Born
1863-12-01, Little Powder River
Died
1950-08-19
Birthplace state
Wyoming

Biography

Black Elk was born on December 1, 1863, near Little Powder River, Wyoming, and died on August 19, 1950. He served as a medicine man and heyoka among the Oglala Lakota people. He fought alongside his second cousin Crazy Horse at the Battle of Little Bighorn and was present at Wounded Knee in 1890. Black Elk performed with Buffalo Bill's Wild West during tours in Europe.

Occupation

Black Elk is recorded as a traditional leader or chief, a Heyoka, a medicine man and a healer, born in Wyoming (1863–1950).

Connections to Wyoming

Black Elk was born in Little Powder River, Wyoming in 1863. Explore other notable figures from Wyoming, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Wyoming›Wyominghistory ›Historic sites in Wyoming›
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Everything a full report reveals about Little Powder River

Black Elk came from Little Powder River. A full Aubrey report on Little Powder River pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Black Elk

Who was Black Elk?
Black Elk was Oglala Lakota leader (1863–1950), born in Wyoming (1863 – 1950).
When and where was Black Elk born?
Black Elk was born on 1863-12-01 in Little Powder River.
When did Black Elk die?
Black died on 1950-08-19.
What was Black Elk known for?
Black Elk is recorded as a traditional leader or chief, a Heyoka, a medicine man and a healer.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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