Baptiste Garnier and the Indian Wars

Torn between his Sioux heritage and duty to the U.S. Army, Baptiste "Little Bat" Garnier navigates the brutal Indian wars. As allegiances blur, he confronts the heartrending costs of loyalty, identity, and a divided America.

6 mins
In 1866, as the U.S. modernized its military, the Army Reorganization Act allowed Native Americans to enlist as scouts, heralding a profound era of change. Amidst this backdrop, the film unfolds the story of Baptiste Garnier, a half Oglala Sioux, half French-Canadian scout known as "Little Bat." Torn between his Sioux roots and his U.S. allegiances, he navigated the brutal Indian wars and was at the heart of pivotal battles, including the tragic Wounded Knee massacre. Although perceived as a bridge between two worlds, Baptiste's duality often led him to make heartbreaking decisions. By the time of his untimely death in 1900, shot by a white bartender over a bar tab dispute, he epitomized the complex weave of identity and legacy, raising questions about the cost of serving two peoples in a divided America.

Robert Keith Collins

Robert Keith Collins

Dan Olmsted

Sound Mixer

Sean Restivo

Director

Dan Olmsted

Sound Designer

Jesse Collier Sutterley

Post Production Supervisor

Birdy Wei-Ting Hung

Line Producer

Alexis Cabrera

Digital Producer

Isaac Billanfante

Additional Camera

William McNeil

Cinematography

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