Shane Bearskin, a young Cree man from James Bay, and Theresa Wawati, an Algonquin woman from Northern Quebec, are united by a profound love for each other and a visceral attachment to their cultural heritage. As children both experienced the challenges that face so many young people from indigenous communities. They are university students in Montreal. Theresa is determined to become a lawyer to defend her people whose lands and way of life are constantly encroached upon. After passing her law faculty entry exams, Theresa is diagnosed with leukemia with about a year to live. Bucking everything modern society would impose on them, they decide to live out their dream, return to live in the bush, like their ancestors, and have a baby.