Dreamkeeper
Dreamkeeper is a 2003 drama film written by John Fusco and directed by Steve Barron. It stars Eddie Spears as Shane Chasing Horse and August Schellenberg as his Lakota grandfather, Pete Chasing Horse. The story follows the two as they travel from Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota to a powwow in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Shane is in trouble with a local gang because he borrowed money to buy a ring for Mae Little Wounded, the girl he likes. His grandfather agrees to take him to the powwow, hoping the old stories will help Shane choose a better path and embrace his Lakota identity.
On their journey, Pete tells many Lakota legends to teach valuable lessons. He speaks of Eagle Boy, the thunder spirit and Sky Woman, the trickster Coyote and Iktomi, and other tales from different tribes. The trip is not easy: the gang pursues them, a car accident sends them into the Rio Grande, and Shane must prove his courage. The journey brings the two closer, with the grandfather’s stories guiding Shane to see life and his culture in a new light. Along the way, they meet other travelers and face moments of wonder and danger, including the eventual reveal of the fate of Eagle Boy’s story.
Filming took about four months and occurred mainly in Canada, Arizona, and New Mexico. Native advisors from the Lakota, Kiowa, Cheyenne, Pawnee, Blackfeet, Mohawk, and Crow tribes helped ensure authenticity, and the production used memorable buffalo scenes and a scene with leopard dogs. Special visual effects created the ethereal look of Sky Woman’s world without relying on blue screen.
Dreamkeeper had a budget of CAD 40 million and aired on ABC on December 28, 2003.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 16:56 (CET).