Black Elk decides to perform his dog vision with heyokas, who are sacred fools. He explains that truth has a sad side and a rejoicing side and people need different sides at different times. Heyokas do everything backwards and make people laugh, but their actions represent profound truth.
To enact the dog vision, two heyokas kill a dog with much ceremony; it is skinned and its head and heart are boiled. While this is happening, 30 heyokas move among the crowd of Indians assembled at Pine Ridge, playing tricks and entertaining. Black Elk and his friend One Side act out the vision by riding past the boiling pot and spearing the head and heart of the dog upon their arrows. His people share the meat, sacred because it has the power of the West in it. The people are made happier.
