Powwow Highway

Join us in our remote, Zoom viewing of Jonathan Wacks comedic buddy- and road movie Powwow Highway (1989, 87 minutes), based on Native novelist David Seals’ 1979 novel. The film follows activist Buddy Red Bow and his friend Philbert Bono as they travel the American West from Montana to Sante Fe, New Mexico to save Buddy’s estranged sister from an unjust imprisonment. The third member of the film is Philbert’s rusty rez car and war pony, a beat up, 1964 Buick Wildcat nicknamed Protector. Produced in part by former Beatle George Harrison and filmed on location throughout the west, including the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation and Pine Ridge, the film tempers serious social awareness of issues faced by indigenous people with a healthy dose of humor. It also introduced important Native actors Wes Studi and Graham Greene in small cameo roles.  

Co-sponsored by the Book in Common, Humanities Center, and University Film Series.