Washaka

Set in the early 1800s, this tale offers a rare glimpse into the Lakota tribe on the cusp of a great historical change. Little Chief, a young Lakota boy, dreams of a white bear tied to a tree and bleeding at the neck. His grandfather tells him he must watch for this bear - or something like it - because dreams are Wakan, sacred signs from the creator. When Little Chief finds a white boy who's been abused by his father and tied to a tree, he knows this is the White Bear of his dreams. Based on the dreams and prayers of Leon Hale, a Lakota man, the narrative chronicles the rush of cultures coming together and - despite the love of family and friends - the ensuing heartbreak of a cultural collision.