Buffalo Soldiers and the Indian Wars
Baptiste Garnier and the Indian Wars
Season 1, Episode 1
•
TV-14, 01-Sep-2023
Directed by Sean Restivo
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.
Up Next in Buffalo Soldiers & the Indian WarsSeason 1
-
Pride of the Buffalo Soldier
Directed by Allyce Ondricka
African American soldiers throughout the 19th and 20th Centuries faced discrimination and segregation, yet many still chose to fight for their country.
-
Buffalo Soldiers, Victorio and Manife...
Directed by Alexander Zane Irwin
A look into the 19th century American-Indian Wars, Manifest Destiny, and the conflicts between Apache tribes and the African-American Buffalo soldier regiments.
-
Buffalo Soldiers: George Jordan and t...
Directed by Joshua Cardenas
“Buffalo Soldiers: George Jordan and the Indian Wars” is a poignant examination of the marginalized history of the Buffalo Soldiers - African American servicemen who bravely served in numerous conflicts only to face scorn, ridicule, and suppression of their stories ba...
