Powwow Highway
Identity politics is found clearly in the movie Powwow Highway. Even though the main characters, Buddy Red Bow and Philbert Bono, are extremely different in their beliefs and ideas about their band, the Cheyenne, they share experiences in regard to the injustices brought upon them. With Philberts ideas on how to preserve his people, stemming around the old stories and preserving the old ways of the Cheyenne, and Buddy's ideas on how to preserve his people, stemming around laws, legislature, and political activism as a way to preserve his people, these two men couldn't be any different in their ideas. Even though they go about things in different ways, they both have a common goal. Their ideas will merge on the road and they will see the other as equals and they will both share in the other's ideas and experiences on how to preserve their people. Buddy becomes more spiritual and shares customs of the old people from his band while Philbert, though remaining spiritual, displays acts of political activism and "damn's the man" when helping Buddy's sister out of jail and stealing the money from the police station. If these men can band together to help their people, anyone can band together in search of a common goal. This movie brings hope to the hopeless and inspiration to the uninspired.