Powwow Highway (1989)

Even with such TV shows as Reservation Dogs and Dark Winds and movies such as Prey (2022) and Killers of the Flower Moon (2023), Native Americans are severely underrepresented. As hard as it is to believe, the situation was even worse in the Eighties. During that decade, for the most part the only time a Native American character might appear on the big screen or the television screen might be a Western. This was why the independent feature Powwow Highway (1989) was so remarkable at the time of its release. Not only did have it a primarily Native American cast, but it was set in the present day.

In Powwow Highway (1989), Buddy Red Bow (A Martinez), a member of the Northern Cheyenne of Lane Deer, Montana, must make it to Santa Fe, New Mexico, as his sister, Bonnie Red Bow (Joanelle Romero), has been framed for drug trafficking. To get there, he enlists the aid of an acquaintance, Philbert Bono (Gary Farmer), who has just acquired a beat-up 1964 Buick Wildcat, which he refers as his "pony" and has named "Protector." Together the two take a circuitous trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico to free Red Bow's sister. The two travelling companions could not be more different. Buddy Red Bow is practical, if quick-tempered, and does not think the old stories can answer today's problems. Philbert Bono not only has faith in the old stories, but has sacred visions and aspires to find his medicine.

Powwow Highway (1989) was based on the 1979, self-published novel of the same name by David Seals. Actor Carl Kraines, who would serve as an associate producer on the film, read the novel and brought it to the attention of screenwriters Janet Heaney and Jean Stawarz. According to a Variety article from May 29, 1989, David Seals sold the screen rights to the novel in 1985  for $10,000. Once they had completed the screenplay, Janet Heaney and Jean Starwartz approached, Jonathan Wacks, who had produced the cult classic Repo Man (1984). Powwow Highway (1989) would mark Jonathan Wacks's feature film directorial debut. Ultimately, the film would be produced by HandMade Films, a company founded by former Beatle George Harrison and his business partner Denis O'Brien. At this point, HandMade Films had already produced such films as Life of Brian (1979), Time Bandits (1981), and Runaway Train (1985).

Powwow Highway (1989) was made on a budget of only $3 million. An August 12, 1987 article in Variety, shooting was underway in Sheridan, Wyoming. Powwow Highway (1989) was shot at the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Montana, the Nambe Reservation in New Mexico, and Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in North Dakota, as well as other locations in New Mexico, Wyoming, and Montana. The filmmakers spent 10 days shooting at the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Lame Deer, Montana where members of the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council even served as extras. The famous Jimtown Bar was used as a location in the film. 

Powwow Highway (1989) premiered at the Montreal World Film Festival on August 26, 1988. The movie did well on the film festival circuit. It won the awards for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor at the 1988 (for Gary Farmer) American Indian Film Festival in San Francisco. At the 1989 Sundance Film Festival, Jonathan Wacks took the Filmmakers Trophy for Powwow Highway (1989). Powwow Highway (1989) was released in the United States on February 24, 1989. 

For the most part, Powwow Highway (1989) received positive reviews from critics. Roger Ebert gave the movie three stars and commented, "The plot is not the point. What Powwow Highway does best is to create two unforgettable characters and give them some time together."Sheila Benson of The Los Angeles Times also gave Powwow Highway (1989) marks, calling it, "..a little zinger of a comedy with a rare backbone of intelligence." Like many other critics, Janet Maslin of The New York Times praised Gary Farmer's performance. Powwow Highway (1989) was nominated for the awards for Best First Feature, Best Cinematography, and Best Supporting Male (for Gary Farmer) at the Independent Spirit Awards.

For the most part, Powwow Highway (1989) was positively received by Native Americans upon its release. Not only did Powwow Highway (1989) avoid common stereotypes, but it also addressed issues of concern to Native Americans, including poverty, unemployment, and the eagerness of white corporate interests to exploit natural resources on reservations. At the same time, the film places importance on the past and tradition.

Aside from being one of the earliest movies to centre on Native Americans in the present day and one of the earliest to achieve some modicum of mainstream success, Powwow Highway (1989) would prove to be a launching pad for various indigenous actors. Both Wes Studi and Graham Greene appear in supporting roles. The film's leads  also went onto successful career. A Martinez would be part of the main cast of L.A. Law and had recurring roles on the shows Profiler, General Hospital, One Life to Live, and Longmire. Gary Farmer appeared in the Native American cult classic Smoke Signals (1998) and appeared on the show Reservation Dogs. 

Powwow Highway (1989) was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress last year, 2024. It was a honour that the film well-deserved. Powwow Highway (1989) would pave the way for other Native American films released in the Nineties and Naughts, including Smoke Signals (1998), ;Naturally Native (1998), Skins (2002), and others. The impact of Powwow Highway (1989) can still be felt to this day in such TV shows as Rutherford Falls, Reservation Dogs, and Dark Winds. While it might not be a perfect film, it is one that certainly had an impact.