aaaBeginningjustafterthebloodySiouxvictoryoverGeneralCusteratLittleBigHorn,BuryMyHeartatWoundedKneeintertwinestheperspectivesofthreecharactersCharlesEastman(Beach),néOhiyesa,ayoung,Dartmouth-educated,Siouxdoctorheldupaslivingproofoftheallegedsuccessofassimilation;SittingBull(Schellenberg),theproudLakotachiefwhorefusestosubmittoU.S.governmentpoliciesdesignedtostriphispeopleoftheiridentity,theirdignityandtheirsacredland–thegold-ladenBlackHillsoftheDakotas;andSenatorHenryDawes(Quinn),whowasoneofthearchitectsofthegovernmentpolicyonIndianaffairs.WhileEastmanandpatricianschoolteacherElaineGoodale(Paquin)worktoimprovelifefortheIndiansonthereservation,SenatorDaweslobbiesPresidentGrant(Thompson)formorehumanetreatment,opposingthebellicosestanceofGeneralWilliamTecumsehSherman(Feore).HoperisesfortheIndiansintheformoftheprophetWovoka(Studi)andtheGhostDance–amessianicmovementthatpromisesanendoftheirsufferingunderthewhiteman.ThishopeisobliteratedaftertheassassinationofSittingBullandthemassacreofhundredsofIndianmen,womenandchildrenbythe7thCavalryatWoundedKneeCreekonDec.29,1890.WrittenbyHBOFilms
