A Native American film star has been arrested for an alleged string of assaults of young Indigenous girls over two decades.

Dances With Wolves star Nathan Lee Chasing Horse was taken into custody on Wednesday after SWAT officers were seen outside of his residence searching his property.

Mr Chasing Horse appeared alongside Kevin Costner as young Sioux tribe member Smiles A Lot.

The actor, now 46, gained popularity and standing among tribes across the US and in Canada for performing healing ceremonies and spiritual gatherings.

It is alleged that he abused this position of influence to target Indigenous girls.

According to local media reports police received a tip off in October 2022 that sparked a months-long investigation.

The 50-page search warrant also alleges Mr Chasing Horse is believed to be the leader of a cult known as the Circle.

At least six alleged victims have been identified by Las Vegas police, uncovering sexual assault allegations against Mr Chasing Horse dating to the early 2000s.

The victims hail from states including Montana, South Dakota and Nevada, where he lived for about a decade.

Mr Chasing Horse was born on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, which is home to the Sicangu Sioux, one of the seven tribes of the Lakota nation.

According to reports, the arrest warrant notes he was banished from the Fort Peck Reservation in Poplar, Montana, in 2015 for alleged human trafficking.

The so-called 'Medicine Man' has a history of alleged relationships and relations with underage Indigenous girls.

The warrant detailing allegations of sex trafficking, sexual assault of a child younger than 16 and child abuse. Some of the alleged victims were as young as 13.

One of Mr Chasing Horse's wives was allegedly offered to him as a "gift" when she was 15, while another became a wife after turning 16.

He has also been accused of recording sexual assaults, and of arranging sex with the victims for other men who allegedly paid him.

State attorneys general and lawmakers across the United States are looking into creating specialised units to handle cases involving Indigenous women.

In South Dakota, the attorney general's office has renewed focus on crimes against Indigenous people, including human trafficking and murders.