Eight year old Little Tree lives in depression-era America. After his parents pass away, he goes to live with his grandparents in the rugged country side. There he is taught by them, as well as by Willow John, the Cherokee way of life. The history of how the Caucasians settlers first befriended them, then using the army forcibly took over their lands, forced them to re-locate resulting in many deaths. When the state's social services finds out that Little Tree is not attending school and is assisting his grandfather in selling liquor, they compel him to re-locate to an oppressive Catholic school, where things take a turn for the worse.

Continuity: When Little Tree's grandmother is serving the meal, there's a large spoon to the right of her plate. Then there's a close-up shot of Little Tree as she sets the two bowls on her and Little Tree's plates and then fetches the dictionary and her glasses, and a wide shot of the whole table again. But now the spoon has vanished. When she finishes reading to him out of the dictionary, there's another wide shot and the spoon has reappeared.