Baptiste Garnier and the Indian Wars

In 1866, as the United States advanced its military capabilities, the Army Reorganization Act permitted Native Americans to join as scouts, marking a significant period of transformation. Against this historical backdrop, the film tells the tale of Baptiste Garnier, a scout of mixed Oglala Sioux and French-Canadian heritage, known as “Little Bat.” Caught between his Sioux ancestry and his loyalty to the U.S., he maneuvered through the harsh Indian wars and played a central role in key conflicts, including the sorrowful Wounded Knee massacre. Seen as a link between two cultures, Baptiste’s dual identity often forced him into making painful choices. By the time of his premature death in 1900, when he was shot by a white bartender over a disagreement about a bar tab, he embodied the intricate blend of identity and legacy, prompting reflection on the price of serving two nations in a divided America.