BeginningjustafterthebloodySiouxvictoryoverGeneralCusteratLittleBigHorn,BuryMyHeartatWoundedKneeintertwinestheperspectivesofthreecharacters:CharlesEastmanBeach,néOhiyesa,ayoung,Dartmoutheducated,Siouxdoctorheldupaslivingproofoftheallegedsuccessofassimilation;SittingBullSchellenberg,theproudLakotachiefwhorefusestosubmittoUSgovernmentpoliciesdesignedtostriphispeopleoftheiridentity,theirdignityandtheirsacredland–thegoldladenBlackHillsoftheDakotas;andSenatorHenryDawesQuinn,whowasoneofthearchitectsofthegovernmentpolicyonIndianaffairsWhileEastmanandpatricianschoolteacherElaineGoodalePaquinworktoimprovelifefortheIndiansonthereservation,SenatorDaweslobbiesPresidentGrantThompsonformorehumanetreatment,opposingthebellicosestanceofGeneralWilliamTecumsehShermanFeoreHoperisesfortheIndiansintheformoftheprophetWovokaStudiandtheGhostDance–amessianicmovementthatpromisesanendoftheirsufferingunderthewhitemanThishopeisobliteratedaftertheassassinationofSittingBullandthemassacreofhundredsofIndianmen,womenandchildrenbythe7thCavalryatWoundedKneeCreekonDec29,1890WrittenbyHBOFilm