Identity Politics in Powwow Highway
In the film Powwow Highway our main characters Philbert and Redbow each use different methods of political activity to try and secure their (“Cheyenne”) political freedom. Philbert believes in a spiritual method of activism and spends his time searching for items to put together to form a special medicine. When he thinks Cheyenne he sees the tribe back in the 1800’s. Redbow on the other hand is an activist and is not afraid of confrontation. When he thinks Cheyenne he probably pictures the group of activists involved in the 1973 Wounded Knee and what the tribe is today.
The road that the characters travel reveals identity politics in many ways. First, Philbert and Redbow stop to purchase a radio and we watch as Redbow gets violent with the sales person because he feels he has been cheated. Later we watch as Philbert wanders out into a river chanting. He appears to be trying to communicate with the sky which may symbolize the Cheyenne who have left this earth and traveled to a better place. At the end of the film Redbow tries to break Bonnie out of jail but is stopped by the officers and dragged out. In the midst of the action Philbert is able to sneak into the vault and steal money. Later while Redbow is out drinking with Rabbit, Philbert sneaks back to the jail with the two kids and breaks Bonnie out. I found this rather interesting because it seems to symbolize that the best way to get a result (i.e. your political freedom) is not through confrontation but rather to formulate a plan and then put that plan into action. However, it also demonstrates that confrontation and planning taking place at the same time can help lead to change.