Powwow Highway
Identity Politics play out in
Powwow Highway, through Buddy, Philbert, and the people they encounter. Buddy identifies with his Native heritage and fights to protect their natural resources. Buddy does not participate in traditional customs such as dancing and powwows though. Philbert is connected spiritually with his heritage and embodies the traditional beliefs of his Native people. This film shows that people identify with their native culture to different degrees. Youngblood endorses the corporation's takeover of the Native American land yet he was born Native American and does not identify with them. Buddy's sister left the reservation and her children do not know much about their heritage, yet she was also born Native American. Buddy and Philbert strongly identify with their Native American culture and practice their Native beliefs in their every day lives. All of these people were born Native American, yet their lives reflect their heritage to a different extent.