Identity Politics in Powwow Highway
In the film Powwow HIghway, identity politics concerning Native Americans are played out in different ways through each of the characters. This is an important aspect of the film because in popular Western (white) representation, Native Americans often are not portrayed as complex individuals with conflicting views of their heritage within their own communities. Identity politics are meant to shed light on the experiences of an oppressed group of people and in the characters of Redbow and Philbert, the viewer can see two different mentalities about Cheyenne culture in terms of how it is thought about today.
Philbert is the older character of the two men and embodies a desire to live the way his ancestors did, he ahs a connection with his Cheyenne identity that Redbow doesn't necessarily understand until later in the film. Philbert continually acts in ways to bring himself closer to his roots. He names his car Protector and treats it as he would a pony. His calm demeanor seems unshakeable while Redbow is the more uptight, angry character. Redbow is an activist who has a more dismal view of Native American life as it is today. He speaks about all of the injustices placed upon his people and in this provides a view of Native American life not often heard about. Both characters come to a sort of understanding of one another at the end of the film that helps to create a more intricate way of looking at and understanding Cheyenne identity for the viewer. In this sense identity politics and how they play out are an essential aspect of Powwow Highway.