Twelve year old Timothy Azure, a half-blood Chippewa Indian, and his Sioux

buddy, Joe Little Dog, spend their free time thinking up tricks to play on

their friends Bobo and Lulu Olsen. They soon realize Bobo and Lulu are

changing...for the worse. Eventually they drift apart for good.

Timothy enjoys running with his spirit horses that only he can see. On

his

birthday Dad and Grandfather give him a horse he names Chief. The spirit

horses bid him a sad farewell, and he knows he is growing up and doesn't

need their companionship anymore.

He's concerned about alcoholism on the reservation. His dad was, and

Joe's

dad is, an alcoholic. When Joe's dad dies Timothy has a bad dream about

the

disease, and Grandfather says it's time for the sweat lodge and the vision

quest ceremonies. This is where Timothy receives his Indian name, Little

Eagle.

During a winter blizzard Joe steals Chief, so he can pretend for a little

while Chief is his. Timothy, brother Kenny and Dad find Joe, who is

trapped

under a fallen log, leg broken. Timothy forgives him, knowing how lonely

he

is with no grandfather to bond with.

The day after New Years Grandfather passes on to the spirit world.

Timothy

goes to the sweat lodge to grieve, and hears Grandfather's voice in the

wind, assuring him he'll always be with him. He determines to carry on

the

teachings and traditions he has learned from his beloved grandfather.