The story of the Oregon Trail is adapted from a book, which itself retells the stories from the real life diaries of American Frontiersman, Francis Parkman. As a bold young man, looking to make his way in the settling of America, Parkman took it upon himself to befriend Whirlwind, Chieftain of the Dacotah native tribe. Parkman lived among the Dacotah, as one of them, learning a way to live in peace with nature and respect of his fellow man, no matter the color of his skin. He did see a fair bit of action and danger too. Although the Dacotah lived peaceably with each other, they were often at war with neighboring tribes. Their bitterest rivals were the Snake tribe, who the Dacotah enter into a bitter feud with after they kill Whirlwind's son in battle.