we are Cheyenne
In “Powwow Highway”, identity politics is center stage. Both Red Bow’s and Philbert’s identity clearly revolves around being Cheyenne but they understand it in two different ways. Red Bow understands that he is being persecuted by the western world because of his Cheyenne identity. He takes strong objection to the white man coming in and exploiting their land and their sovereignty. A great of example of this is the scene where the business man is trying to convince the council to allow his men to come in and take resources off the land. His own conception of his identity is because of outside pressure against it. On the other hand Philbert’s Cheyenne identity revolves around an inner understanding—spiritually connected. It is a personal journey to connect with his ancestors and Cheyenne heritage. On this road trip, like every road trip, signifies an inner journey for all who take to the road. Both men had the trip bring them in touch with who they really are—“We are Cheyenne”. I do think that the most personal change in identify came from Red Bow. Before the road trip his identity came from how the outside world interacted with him but as the road trip continued with Philbert and multiple stops at sacred sites, he started to experience his identity from within. The road is a place that allows and sometimes forces people to deal with themselves and in the end discovering something new about oneself—their identity.