Raised on the Dog Creek Reservation in Manitoba until parents' deaths

After parents' deaths, moved to Winnipeg when he was adopted by an aunt and uncle

TV acting debut in "Lonesome Dove" (CBS)

Feature debut in "Cadillac Girls"

Co-starred in "Dance Me Outside," directed by Bruce McDonald

Had supporting role in the feature "A Boy Called Hate"

Reunited with Bruce McDonald on the Canadian TV series "The Rez"

Appeared on the Canadian TV series "Madison"

Breakthrough screen role as one of the leads in "Smoke Signals"

Supported Russell Crowe in the hockey comedy-drama "Mystery, Alaska"

Had lead in the CBC series "Harry's Case"

Appeared in "Joe Dirt"

Co-starred with Nicolas Cage in the WWII drama "Windtalkers"

Starred alongside Wes Studi in the TV adaptation of "Skinwalkers" for airing on PBS' "Mystery!"

Starred in "The Big Empty"

Portrayed Ira Hayes, one of the men who lifted the flag at the battle of Iwo Jima in Clint Eastwood's "Flags of Our Fathers"

Starred in the HBO Films' adaptation of Dee Brown's novel, "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" as the Sioux advocate, author and medical doctor Ohiyesa; earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor

Joined the cast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (NBC) for one season only, as Detective Chester Lake