Plot
In 1874, the U.S. government encroaches on the lands of the Lakota people. Mattotaupa, an Oglala Lakota man, gambles with Red Fox, a White criminal, in a saloon. When seeing he has gold, Red Fox demands to know its origin. Mattotaupa refuses, and Red Fox murders him. Mattotaupa's son, the young and fierce warrior Tokei-ihto who mistrusts the Whites and never drinks their "Firewater", witnesses the murder.
Two years later, Tokei-ihto is the war chieftain of the Oglala's Bear Band and one of Crazy Horse's commanders in the Great Sioux War. He raids a resupply column sent to a U.S. Army fort, but brings the commander's daughter Katie Smith to her father unharmed, requesting to negotiate peace. Major Smith turns him down, and one of his officers tries to shoot the chieftain, who then surprises the soldiers and single-handedly destroys their munitions depot.
The warriors return to their camp victorious. Red Fox arrives, offering a peace treaty. Tokei-ihto is sent to negotiate. Smith demands they settle in a reservation. When Tokei-ihto rejects the offer, he is imprisoned. The Bear Band are brutally forced to resettle.
After several months, the war has ended. Red Fox enters Tokei-ihto's cell, trying to force him to reveal the location of the gold mine. Katie Smith and her friend Adams stop him before he begins to torture the captive. They recommend that after being released, he should take his people to Canada. The chieftain accepts the government's terms and returns to the reservation.
Tokei-ihto ventures to the sacred caves of the Great She-Bear, the Band's Totem animal, which are also the gold's source, to seek the blessing of the spirits to their departure. Red Fox's henchman Pitt goes after him, hoping to find gold. He stumbles upon a she-bear which kills him, though not before he fatally wounds her with a gunshot. Tokei-ihto finds the she-bear's cub. He takes it back to the tribe.
The Bear Band leave. They raid an army column, and General George Crook offers a $200 reward on the chieftain's head. Red Fox, still seeking the gold, sets after them with a large group of ruffians. They gain on the Lakota as they cross the Missouri River. Red Fox agrees to let the people move on undisturbed if Tokei-ihto would remain behind. The chieftain agrees. After a prolonged fight, he manages to kill Red Fox. The band settle on the other bank, finding refuge.
Read more about this topic: The Sons Of Great Bear
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