Claudia Love Mair and Christine Valters Paintner have a conversation with Jon Sweeney about his book Nicholas Black Elk: Medicine Man, Catechist, Saint.

Servant of God Nicholas Black Elk (1863–1950) is popularly celebrated for his fascinating spiritual life. How could one man, one deeply spiritual man, serve as both a traditional Oglala Lakota medicine man and a Roman Catholic catechist and mystic? How did these two spiritual and cultural identities enrich his prayer life?