Black Elk is the protagonist of the book, which is presented as a transcription of stories told by Black Elk to the author. The narrative begins with Black Elk as a young boy and follows Black Elk’s life up to the age of 27, when the Wounded Knee Massacre occurs. Black Elk is a member of the Ogalala band of Lakota Native Americans, who live around the Black Hills mountains in present-day South Dakota. When Black Elk is nine years old, he has a powerful “great vision” that involves Black Elk meeting with six spiritual Grandfathers (16). As spirits take Black Elk to the “center of the earth,” Black Elk is gifted several powers with which Black Elk is meant to help heal his suffering nation (20).

For years, Black Elk keeps his vision a secret, assuming that no one would believe him. As Black Elk grows into a teenager, the Wasichus (or white people) continually pursue and attack the Lakota, hoping to gain control over the lucrative Black Hills. As his people’s livelihoods continually deteriorate, Black Elk becomes convinced of the necessity to act upon his vision, though he is deeply afraid, as he is unsure how to help his people.