Black Elk

Black Elk, a medicine man of the American Lakota Indian tribe and second cousin of the war leader Crazy horse, converted to Christianity in 1904. At the young age of 10, he witnessed the infamous Custer's last stand at the battle of Little Big Horn, and at 20, survived the tragic Sioux massacre at Wounded Knee. He was a medicine man of the Lakota tribe. In 1904, at the age of 40 following the death of his first wife, Black Elk became a practicing Catholic, remaining one until his death in 1950. He baptized hundreds of Sioux, taught the Bible, held Masses, preached sermons, and lived a humble, righteous, and useful life. His grandson, George Looks Twice recalled: "He was comfortable praying with this pipe and his rosary, and participated in Mass and Lakota ceremonies on a regular basis. By all accounts, he was a model of what a good Christian ought to be."