The chief as symbol
If Black Elk wrote this memoir himself, it would probably be a little more difficult to flesh out the symbolism of chiefs in Native American culture. It is not like an elected official or something. In fact, the way Black Elk Speaks about his role in his community makes it sound as if he were actually a leader by his own authority. By having an authoritative religious awakening, he begins to operate with a shamanic understanding of chaos and nature, and before long, he is the tribal leader. Through this, we see that Native culture prizes their chief as a complex symbol of power. He derives power from ancestry, from spiritual experience, from the gods, and from the community around him who honors him as a kind of legend.
Black Elk's witness as allegory
Besides the general symbolism of chiefs and tribes, the reader could easily notice that what Black Elk's story captures is actually a significant change in American history. Today, we never really hear about Native America tribes revolting against the federal government. That's because the US government won that conflict decisely (for better or worse, often without tact or politique). After Black Elk's generation, the Native American culture was removed from its source. This is not like a personal religion that follows a person wherever their conscious goes—Native religion is tied to the ground and to the spirits that dweel in the tribe's homeland.
Fetishism and entertainment
Black Elk is effectively deposed by the government and flees to Canada. But, before long, his ancient shamanic practices gain a small following, and then a large following. Before long, he is a traveling entertainer. That allegory shows how US culture often fetishizes seemingly exotic cultures and makes them into entertainment. Black Elk ends up on this accidental journey and has to reassess his motivations. What happened to his dream? Can he really tolerate giving up? Then again, the government eliminated his way of life.
The archetypal renaissance
What Black Elk wants is something archetypal. He is hoping for a cultural renaissance of his own way of life. He sees the infinite beauty and value of approaching life the way he and his ancestors teach, but without an effect reach or audience, that message seems to be a kind of novelty to those who hear it. He wants to spark a permanent shift in the culture so that Native cultures are more openly tolerated. He at least hopes to be able to protect his way of life and reignite the passion of his people to obey the tradition they have been handed down, despite the rapidly changing political landscape of America.
Personal defeat as a symbol
Personal defeat is a symbolic consideration in the book because the subject, Black Elk, feels personally liable for the loss of his tribe, as any good chief might. But in this case, that defeat is merely symbolic. This shows the reader that Black Elk is not in the business of affording himself any excuses. He is a symbol for responsibility, the inverse opposite of group think. Instead of dispersing guilt widely, blaming the past, the government, the people—instead of that, he merely accepts the failure as his own. By taking on this emotional burden, he accepts suffering that might constitute mourning.
