Synopsis

Jay is a 17-year-old Métis (native Indian mother and white father) teenager, who was raised by his mother in a slum area in a dysfunctional family with a variety of pseudo-fathers, one of which was abusive. He steals enough money to escape by bus from his desolate life to search for a meaningful life in a big city, and possibly search for his biological father.
On the bus, a middle-aged man, Phil, befriends Jay and makes room for him in his apartment. Phil is despondent over the recent death of his nephew from a drug overdose administrated by his friends to precipitate his imminent death from AIDS.
Phil introduces Jay to some of the niceties of modern civilization including his flamboyantly gay friend, Steve, and a couple of girls. Jay gradually becomes part of a small teenage group which includes a petty thief and the two girls. They initiate him into typical big city subcultures and entertainments with their numerous potential pitfalls and problems. Jay eventually becomes less naive, overcomes his homophobia, and reluctantly accepts Steve as a useful but distant friend.
Jay's petty thief friend puts him in contact with a smalltime drug dealer who uses him as a delivery person. Jay does not realize he is delivering drugs and hence is negligent in making a delivery. The dealer assumes Jay has absconded with the drugs and sends his “boys” to rectify the situation.
Jay leaves Phil's place and goes into hiding on the street. He finds work as a bus boy and waiter in a seedy restaurant. He lives in a small room above the restaurant. An old native shaman also lives there and awakens Jay's feelings for his native heritage and spirituality. Jay learns to listen to his inner voice and puts him in touch with the strength of his guardian eagle spirit. His influence encourages Jay to initiate a successful confrontation with the drug dealer and Jay returns to live with Phil.

Jay falls in love with a girl whose rich father actively does not approve of the relationship. However, Jay perseveres in his search for meaning in various religions and in his Native heritage. Eventually they are married at her father’s posh Country Club. Jay's native shaman friend assists in the ceremony and entertainment is provided on the lawn outside the Club by native drummers and dancers in ceremonial costumes, much to the bewilderment of the family and strait-laced guests.