Identity Politics, Powwow Highway
"Powwow Highway" uses identity politics in two separate ways. There are two Cheyenne characters who view their identity differently. Philbert is optimistic and proud to be Cheyenne. He views happenings in his life as "signs" and is a quite spiritual man. Buddy Redbow is more of a fighter to protect his Cheyenne heritage. He is involved more politically than Philbert in relations regarding his reservation. He tends to be more aggressive for protecting his identity and values his identity quite opposite his friend Philbert.
The road trip that Philbert and Buddy go on bonds them in both being proud to fight for their people and proud to seek out their roots as Cheyenne. The journey these men partake in begins from their rural reservation to the rural past lands of their ancestors. A really cool view of what it means to be proud of their tribe is when Buddy's nephew asks Philbert, which tribe he is. I find this interesting that Buddy's sister had not been specific about the tribe her children were from, yet Philbert knew it was important to relay this information to future generations within their people. Traditions, history, and the people's future are very important to both Buddy and Philbert: the Cheyenne.