What Is Indian Horse About?
The premise of Indian Horse in 309 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the quiet forests of 1960s Northern Ontario, a young Ojibway family lives on the edge of a world that is both breathtakingly wild and unrelentingly watchful. Their son, Saul Indian Horse, grows up hearing the crack of ice on distant lakes and the distant hum of a radio broadcast that carries the excitement of hockey into the remote woods. The closeness of his grandparents, especially his beloved grandmother Naomi, and the steady presence of his parents John and Mary shape a childhood that is as much about survival as it is about love and belonging.
When the pull of the larger world reaches the small community, Saul is placed in a setting that starkly contrasts with the rhythm of his home—a residential school where the language of his ancestors is silenced and the cold corridors echo with disciplined routine. Amid the harshness, a makeshift hockey rink becomes a sanctuary, and the sport’s raw, kinetic energy offers a glimmer of hope. Through the rhythm of stick‑and‑puck, Saul discovers a talent that feels both a rebellion against oppression and a bridge to something larger than himself. The arena, however, is not free from the prejudices that shadow his everyday life, and each victory is tinged with the weight of racism and cultural dislocation.
The film moves between the sweeping, snow‑covered landscapes of the North and the gritty, bruised interiors of a world that often refuses to see Saul as more than a stereotype. It is a story of a boy who uses the cadence of the game to carve out an identity, wrestling with the pull of his heritage and the pressure to conform. As he navigates the thin line between escape and confrontation, the narrative invites viewers to feel the ache of loss, the drive of ambition, and the quiet, persistent search for a place where he truly belongs.
What Happens in Indian Horse?
The complete story of Indian Horse, from the first scene to the last, in 719 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 7 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
In 1961, the Indian Horse family — an Ojibway clan living in the wilderness of Northern Ontario near Redditt — consists of eight-year-old Forrest Goodluck as Saul, his grandmother Edna Manitowabi as Naomi, and his Christian parents John and Mary. They hide from authorities who had previously taken Saul’s siblings to residential schools, clinging to their ancestral lands. When Skye Pelletier as Benjamin suddenly returns after escaping a residential school, the family relocates to Gods Lake, a remote place where their ancestors once lived. Benjamin soon dies of tuberculosis, and his parents take his body and do not return. That winter, Naomi and Saul attempt to reach Minaki, but their canoe overturns, supplies run dry, and Naomi dies. Saul is found by the authorities and taken to St. Jerome’s Indian Residential School in White River.
At St. Jerome’s, led by Michael Murphy as Father Quinney and Irene Poole as Sister Ignacia, Saul witnesses daily abuse of the children, some of whom die. In the same year, Michiel Huisman as Father Gaston Leboutilier joins the faculty and sets up a hockey team for the older boys. Inspired by Hockey Night in Canada, Saul begs to be let on the team despite his age, and is assigned to clean the rink; Saul uses this time to practice hockey, using assorted trash as a makeshift puck. When a player is injured during a scrimmage, Father Leboutilier lets Saul substitute and, astounded by his skill, allows him to join the team. Saul becomes St. Jerome’s star player and is invited to play for White River’s midget hockey team, though he is soon kicked out over his ethnicity.
In 1966, Saul, now thirteen, is invited by Fred Kelly to leave St. Jerome’s and live with his Ojibway family in Manitouwadge to play for the Manitouwadge Moose junior hockey team, coached by Fred and captained by his son Will Strongheart as Virgil. He quickly bonds with Virgil and the Moose, leading them to victory against other reserve teams. Saul reunites with Father Leboutilier after a game in Pic River, the last time he ever sees him. After defeating the Kapuskasing Chiefs, a non-Indigenous Northern Hockey Association team, the Moose begin to travel to other towns along the Trans-Canada Highway. Yet they face heckling and violence over their ethnicity, culminating in an incident near Chapleau where a group of men beat and urinate on all of the Moose players except Saul, whom they spare for his age and skill. At sixteen, Saul is scouted by the Toronto Marlboros, a feeder team for the Toronto Maple Leafs; though hesitant, Virgil and the Moose persuade him to join the Marlboros.
In Toronto, Saul attends the Marlboros’ training camp and makes the team, but he begins to react violently to the incessant discrimination he faces there, and leaves after being benched indefinitely. Saul returns to Manitouwadge and re-joins the Moose, but his aggressive behavior alienates his teammates. Realizing he is no longer welcome, Saul leaves town once he turns eighteen and becomes an alcoholic hobo. After roaming Canada for several years, in 1978 he briefly lives as a farmhand in Redditt but, feeling empty inside, leaves for Winnipeg, where he has a seizure and is hospitalized. Saul is accepted by the New Dawn Centre, an Indigenous rehabilitation centre, where he meets his counselor Moses and has a vivid spiritual experience in which he sees his deceased family. In 1986, Saul visits the now-shuttered St. Jerome’s and breaks down in the abandoned hockey rink as he finally acknowledges his trauma: Father Leboutilier routinely molested and raped Saul, who used hockey as a means of escapism. Saul returns to Minaki and takes a boat to Gods Lake, where he has another spiritual experience in which he speaks with his great-grandfather Shabogeesick, the first “Indian Horse.”
Saul travels to Manitouwadge, where he reconnects with Fred and his wife Martha, both residential school survivors who have endured abuse. He also reunites with Virgil, who is coaching his son Billy’s bantam hockey team. Saul contemplates coaching the bantam team, and Virgil invites him to a reunion hockey game with the Moose. Later that night, while waiting for Virgil and the Moose, Saul discovers a ball of tape on the rink and begins practicing with it once more, mirroring the early days at St. Jerome’s.
Indian Horse Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Family hides in the wilderness as authorities hunt them” to “Manitouwadge reunion: Fred, Martha, Virgil; tape on rink rekindles old practice”. 12 events name a place, across 11 locations.
- 1
Family hides in the wilderness as authorities hunt them
In 1961, Saul’s Ojibway family hides with their grandmother Naomi and his parents near Redditt to avoid removal to a residential school. Benjamin returns from the residential system, signaling a shift as the family contemplates leaving. They decide to relocate to Gods Lake to reconnect with their ancestors.
When:1961 Where:Northern Ontario (Redditt area)
- 2
Benjamin dies and parents leave with his body
Winter 1961–1962, Benjamin dies of tuberculosis and his parents leave with his body, never to return. The loss deepens the family's isolation as they move toward Gods Lake. The tragedy marks a turning point for Saul and his grandmother Naomi.
When:Winter 1961–1962 Where:Gods Lake, Ontario
- 3
Naomi dies during attempted journey to Minaki; Saul is taken to St. Jerome's
Naomi and Saul attempt to reach Minaki, but their canoe overturns and supplies run out. Naomi dies in the attempt, leaving Saul to be found by authorities. He is taken to St. Jerome's Indian Residential School in White River.
When:Winter 1961 Where:Minaki area, Ontario
- 4
Life at St. Jerome's: abuse, Leboutilier arrives, hockey culture begins
At St. Jerome's, the children endure daily abuse under Father Quinney and Sister Ignacia. Father Leboutilier arrives and forms a hockey team for older boys, giving Saul a chance to prove his talent. Saul uses scraps as a puck during long practice and earns a place on the team; he is invited to join White River's midget team but is excluded because of his Ojibway ethnicity.
When:Mid-1960s Where:St. Jerome's Indian Residential School, White River
- 5
Saul joins Manitouwadge Moose after leaving St. Jerome's; 1966
In 1966, Saul, thirteen, leaves St. Jerome's to live with his Ojibway family in Manitouwadge to play for the Moose junior hockey team. He is coached by Fred Kelly and captained by Virgil, quickly earning a reputation for his skill. He leads the Moose to victory against rival teams and is reunited briefly with Leboutilier after a game in Pic River, the last time he sees him.
When:1966 Where:Manitouwadge, Ontario
- 6
Moose face racism on the road; Chapleau incident
After beating the Kapuskasing Chiefs, the Moose travel along the Trans-Canada Highway and face escalating heckling and violence over their ethnicity. Near Chapleau, a mob beats and urinates on all Moose players except Saul, who is spared due to his age and skill. The trauma hardens Saul and tests the team's unity.
When:Mid-1960s Where:Near Chapleau, Ontario
- 7
Saul drafted by the Toronto Marlboros; discrimination leads to departure
At sixteen, Saul is scouted by the Toronto Marlboros, a feeder team for the Maple Leafs, and joins their training camp. The relentless discrimination triggers violent outbursts in him, causing him to be benched and eventually leave the camp. He returns to Manitouwadge and rejoins the Moose, but his aggression alienates his teammates.
When:Late 1960s Where:Toronto, Ontario
- 8
Saul leaves town; becomes an alcoholic hobo
Having left the Marlboros at eighteen, Saul becomes an alcoholic hobo and roams Canada for several years. He drifts through towns and memories, seeking purpose while trying to drown the trauma of his past. The dream of hockey continues to haunt him as a form of escape.
When:Late 1960s–early 1970s Where:Manitouwadge, Ontario / Canada
- 9
1978: farmhand in Redditt; move to Winnipeg; seizure
In 1978, Saul works briefly as a farmhand in Redditt before moving to Winnipeg, where a seizure lands him in the hospital. The episode becomes a turning point that pushes him toward rehabilitation. His health crisis marks the start of a long healing journey.
When:1978 Where:Redditt, Ontario
- 10
New Dawn Centre rehab; spiritual experience
Saul is taken in by the New Dawn Centre, an Indigenous rehabilitation facility in Winnipeg. There he meets his counselor Moses and undergoes a vivid spiritual experience in which he sees his deceased family. The experience helps him begin reconciling with his trauma.
When:Late 1970s Where:Winnipeg, Manitoba (New Dawn Centre)
- 11
1986: visits St. Jerome's; trauma acknowledged; journey to Gods Lake
In 1986 Saul returns to the now-closed St. Jerome's and breaks down in the abandoned hockey rink, openly acknowledging the abuse he endured from Leboutilier. He then journeys to Minaki and takes a boat to Gods Lake, where he speaks with his great-grandfather Shabogeesick, the first Indian Horse. These experiences mark a turning point toward healing.
When:1986 Where:St. Jerome's, White River; Minaki; Gods Lake
- 12
Manitouwadge reunion: Fred, Martha, Virgil; tape on rink rekindles old practice
Saul travels to Manitouwadge to reconnect with Fred and Martha, both residential school survivors, and with Virgil who now coaches his son Billy's bantam team. He contemplates coaching the bantam squad, and Virgil invites him to a reunion game with the Moose. That night, Saul finds a ball of tape on the rink and starts practicing again, mirroring his St. Jerome's routine.
When:Late 1980s Where:Manitouwadge, Ontario
Who Are the Main Characters in Indian Horse?
8 characters, among them Saul (6 years) – Sladen Peltier, Saul (15 years) – Forrest Goodluck and Saul (22 years) – Ajuawak Kapashesit: who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- S(
Saul (6 years) – Sladen Peltier
Played by Sladen Peltier
A young boy living with Naomi and his family in the Ontario wilderness, before authorities begin to threaten their way of life. He exudes curiosity about the surrounding world and forms the early emotional core of Saul’s resilience. This childhood period sets the stage for his later strength in the face of systemic pressure.
- 🏞️ Early Life
- 🧭 Resilience
- 🪶 Childhood
-
Saul (15 years) – Forrest Goodluck
Played by Forrest Goodluck
At fifteen, Saul moves to Manitouwadge to live with his Ojibway family and joins the Moose hockey team. He quickly shines on the ice, earning attention and opportunity, even as he navigates discrimination. The hockey world becomes a proving ground for his identity and skill.
- 🏒 Talent
- 🧭 Identity
- 🪶 Ambition
- S(
Saul (22 years) – Ajuawak Kapashesit
Played by Ajuawak Kapashesit
As a young adult, Saul contends with pervasive discrimination in hockey and chooses to drift away from a professional path. He travels across Canada, and cycles through drinking and homelessness as he searches for belonging and meaning. His later steps toward rehabilitation mark a pivot toward healing.
- 🛶 Drift
- 🧭 Identity
- 🪶 Recovery
- V–
Virgil – Will Strongheart
Played by Will Strongheart
Virgil is Saul’s Moose teammate and a steady, supportive figure who champions Saul’s talent. He helps Saul navigate competitive hockey and Indigenous identity, offering camaraderie and mentorship in a hostile environment. His loyalty contrasts with the discrimination Saul faces elsewhere.
- 🤝 Friendship
- 🏒 Mentorship
- 🪶 Community
-
Father Gaston Leboutilier – Michiel Huisman
Played by Michiel Huisman
A priest who runs the hockey program at St. Jerome’s, Leboutilier recognizes Saul’s talent and introduces him to the team. His role highlights the complex, and at times predatory, power dynamics within the school and sport system. The portrayal underscores the dark sides of authority figures in institutional settings.
- 🎯 Authority
- 🏒 Sports
- 🪶 Predation
-
Father Quinney – Michael Murphy
Played by Michael Murphy
Head of St. Jerome’s, Quinney oversees daily life at the school and the abusive atmosphere Saul endures. He embodies institutional complicity and the silencing of Indigenous voices within the system. His presence marks the normalization of harm within the residential school context.
- 🏛️ Institution
- 🪶 Abuse
- 🧭 Power
- N–
Naomi – Edna Manitowabi
Played by Edna Manitowabi
Saul’s grandmother, who carries the weight of Indigenous memory and family history. She remains a link to homeland and tradition while confronting intergenerational trauma. Naomi’s endurance embodies the thread of cultural continuity that sustains Saul.
- 👵 Ancestors
- 🕊️ Resilience
- 🪶 Family
- B(
Benjamin (11 years) – Skye Pelletier
Played by Skye Pelletier
Benjamin is Saul’s younger brother whose return and illness highlight the fragility of family ties and the consequences of forced separations. His presence deepens Saul’s sense of loss and urgency to protect loved ones.
- 👶 Family
- 🧭 Loss
- 🪶 Resilience
Where and When Is Indian Horse Set?
Indian Horse is set in Northern Ontario wilderness near Redditt, Gods Lake, St. (1961–1986). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
1961–1986
The narrative spans Saul’s childhood in the early 1960s through his adulthood in the mid-1980s. It covers the peak period of residential school impact, the rise of Indigenous hockey ambition, and the long arc toward healing and memory. Key moments include the introduction of hockey, cross-Canada travel, and the eventual confrontation with trauma.
Where
Northern Ontario wilderness near Redditt, Gods Lake, St. Jerome's Indian Residential School (White River), Manitouwadge, Minaki, Toronto, Winnipeg
The story unfolds across remote Ontario landscapes and pivotal institutions. Saul’s early years unfold in the backcountry near Redditt and Gods Lake, where the family hides from authorities. The action shifts to St. Jerome's Residential School in White River, the Manitouwadge hockey world, and later urban centers like Toronto and Winnipeg, illustrating a sweeping geography of Indigenous experience and displacement.
- 🏔️ Wilderness
- 🧭 History
- 🪶 Indigenous heritage
What Are the Themes of Indian Horse?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Trauma, Identity and Healing.
-
01
Trauma
The film centers on the enduring damage from the residential school system and the abuse Saul endures. Hockey becomes both sanctuary and site of retraumatization, illustrating how pain threads through family histories. The trauma shapes Saul’s sense of self, resilience, and the choices he makes across decades.
-
02
Identity
Saul’s Ojibway identity is tested by discrimination and cultural erasure within institutions and the sport world. Hockey offers belonging and achievement, yet prejudice continually threatens to erase his roots. The story tracks how memory, community, and spirituality sustain identity amid hardship.
-
03
Healing
Healing unfolds through spiritual visions, Indigenous rehabilitation, and reconnections with family and community. The New Dawn Centre represents a path toward recovery from addiction and trauma, while Saul’s contemplative memories and visits to sacred spaces push him toward reconciliation. Healing is portrayed as a non-linear, long-term process with moments of profound clarity.
What Kind of Film Is Indian Horse?
Dark in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A harrowing and emotionally draining journey through trauma and systemic racism, punctuated by the fleeting hope of hockey, ultimately leading to a difficult but cathartic search for identity and healing.
- gritty
- traumatic
- resilient
- oppressive
- somber
- cathartic
- residential schools
- systemic racism
- child abuse
- addiction
Content notes: child abuse, sexual assault, racist violence, alcoholism, child death, traumatic grief.
Quiz
How well do you remember Indian Horse? Test yourself on the story.
