Powwow Highway,” a 1989 drama-comedy road trip movie, details the physical and spiritual journey of two Native American men of the Cheyenne tribe as they take a road trip to Santa Fe, N.M. It was shown at Elizabethtown College as part of the Diversity Film Series at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 11, in the Brinser Lecture Room. The film ran for about an hour and a half with a question and answer session immediately following.
The film follows Buddy Red Bow, who attempts to get to Santa Fe to bail his sister Bonnie out of jail after she is arrested on trumped up drug possession charges. On his way there, he meets up and journeys with an old acquaintance, Philbert Bono, who has decided to go on a journey of spiritual enlightenment in his quest to become a medicine man and warrior. Throughout the film, the two encounter multiple instances of racism and harassment toward Native Americans, to the point that Buddy exclaims that they are not living the American dream. Rather, they are living in a third world country right in the middle of American prosperity, which most Americans have not even realized.
They also encounter acceptance amongst an array of different characters during the titular Powwow, a Native American ceremony involving feasting, singing and dancing. Another instance of acceptance occurs when Bonnie’s friend Rabbit Layton attempts to convince the police station in Santa, Fe. to allow her to bail Bonnie out of jail. The main duo themselves are a testament to tolerance. They are wildly different personalities thrown into a close-quarters situation where they are forced to come to terms with themselves and each other. Buddy is an angry activist struggling to make his voice heard, while Philbert holds traditional views on preserving their culture.
The film portrays Native American culture realistically and accurately, particularly through the two main characters. Though at first glance they may seem like relatively extreme caricatures of Native American cultural identities, Buddy and Philbert are meant to portray the conflicting attitudes in modern Native American reservations. Every aspect of the film feeds into this from the choices in costuming to the interactions between different Native American tribes and with other American groups.
Native American populations experience about twice the national average of poverty and unemployment rates. They endure intra-tribal violence and encroachment from federal organizations intent on divvying up the natural resources on their land. Gambling and the drug trade are scourges. The Great Recession only compounded these problems for Native Americans, exacerbating issues in their home communities and locking federal aid to tribal governments.
These issues have come to greater light in today’s world, even though the film was made over 20 years ago. The messages of “Powwow Highway” continue to be powerful today. The conflicts the film tackles — violence between different tribes, the economic troubles plaguing the reservations and the prevalent racism many Native Americans still experience — still exist today. The fact that the film still resonates so well is proof that these are issues which must be dealt with. The film’s continued resonance with its audiences also begs the question: what does the future hold for Native American tribes? Will separate tribes still be able to function autonomously given the current economic and political situations? Or will they be swallowed up due to lackluster aid and response to their troubles?
“Powwow Highway” starred A. Martinez as Buddy Red Bow, Fary Garmer as Philbert Bono, Amanda Wyss as Rabbit Layton and Joanelle Nadine Romero as Bonnie Red Bow. It was nominated for several awards, including the Grand Jury Prize and for Best Feature and Best Supporting Actor for Farmer, Independent Spirit Awards. The Diversity Film Series is sponsored by the Academic Advising Center.
