The Lone Ranger star Johnny Depp is hoping to return America's Wounded Knee to the Indian people by purchasing the famous landmark and handing the deeds to local tribe leaders.

The actor, who has Cherokee, Creek and Chickasaw blood running through his veins, was made an honorary member of the Comanche tribe after filming the Disney action adventure on tribal land in New Mexico last year (12).

Depp has always been very supportive of the Native American community and its culture and he is now considering buying the site in South Dakota, where the Wounded Knee Massacre took place in 1890, when hundreds of Indians died defending their land from U.S. troops.

He tells U.K. publication The Daily Mail, "It's very sacred ground and many atrocities were committed against the Sioux (tribe) there.

"In the 1970s there was a stand-off between the Feds (U.S. federal government) and the people who should own that land. This historical land is so important to the Sioux culture and all I want to do is buy it and give it back... I am doing my best to make that happen. It's land they were pushed on to and then they were massacred there. It really saddens me."

The 40-acre plot of land is currently privately held and heading to auction with a starting asking price of $3.9 million (Gbp2.5 million).