White Bird's band of Nimiipuu (Nez Perce) has long fought against joining others on a reservation. Stumbling Tongue and his sister, Snowflower, lost their parents years before and have been living with their uncle, Sits By the Fire. Stumbling Tongue's birth name was White Wolf but he was given the name Stumbling Tongue because of his stammer. 

Now he is in search of his "weyekin" or guardian. Twice before he has been on a quest but has been unsuccessful. Now he finds his "weyekin" and casts off the hated name for his new name "Full Moon". 

When the hated white soldiers search for White Bird's band, they have no choice but to pack up and flee the soldiers. Full Moon assumes his place in the tribe. While trying to honor their parents, they are captured and forced to attend a white school until they can make their escape. 

There is a certain amount of history in the story as Indians were pursued and forced to live on reservations. Their life on the reservations is one documenting hardships. HORSE OF THE DAWN, while dealing with one small tribe, is descriptive of the hardships facing all tribes.