Also, throughout the story, Black Elk faces the responsibility of reviving his culture. At the end, he feels as if the relationship between the white settlers and his people has caused an imbalance and needs attention in order to correct itself. Black Elk's explanation of beliefs and rituals helps give concrete examples of how the relationship between humans with one another, humans with God, and humans with the earth play out in reality.
When read independently, Black Elk Speaks and Women, Earth, and Creator Spirit seem to portray two drastically different systems of belief. However, upon closer examination, it becomes obvious that the two works relate much more closely than previously assumed. Both sets of beliefs convey the ideas of interconnectedness and the need for balance amongst people, things, and places. Johnson states, " The earth and all living creatures including ourselves are a manifestation of the Spirit's creative energy," (31). This statement is similar to the beliefs of the Lakota, as described by Black Elk when he speaks, "Great Spirit, Great Spirit all over the earth the faces of living things are all alike," (6). Both authors also highlight the loss of respect in the relationship with the earth. Johnson describes the situation by saying, "Our eyes have been blinded to the sacredness of the earth- (21), while Black Elk tells Niehardt, "There is no center any longer, and the sacred tree is dead," (270). .
I feel as if I fully came to understand Johnson's idea of the three crucial relationships upon review of my previous life experiences. For example, this past December I traveled to Mexico for one of Seattle University's Mexico Mission Trek trips. While down in Mexico, I learned many important lessons, however, the most important of these lessons occurred while actually working with and alongside the Mexican people. Through our conversation of mixed Spanish and English, gestures, and body language, I learned how truly out of sync things are in our American society.