Powwow Highway

This screening took place on Tuesday, August 26, 2025 at 6:00 pmYukon Theatre

Before there was Smoke Signals or Dance Me Outside, there was 1989's Pow Wow Highway which propelled fictional story-telling of Indigenous lives and communities on film. Produced by George Harrison's film company Handmade Films, Pow Wow Highway features Canadian icon Gary Farmer (Haudenosaunee) in his first leading role alongside Alec Martinez and with appearances from, then emerging, film actors Graham Greene, John Trudell and Wes Studi. It's Farmer who steals the show as Philbert, an easy-going man who drives his 'war pony' on a vision quest to reclaim his status as a Cheyenne warrior while helping out his childhood friend, an anti-mining activist trying to get to Santa Fe to save his sister from corrupt police and industrialists. What could be more Summer Classic than a road trip in December?

Two Northern Cheyenne men take a road trip from Montana to New Mexico to bail out the sister of one of them who has been framed and arrested in Santa Fe. On the way, they begin to reconnect to their spiritual heritage.

Recommended ages 14+ for strong language, violence and alcohol consumption.

"A heroic journey, indeed! This kicks a lot of ass. Gary Farmer and A Martinez compliment each other so well and it’s awesome to see such loving male friendships on screen. This 100% deserves a restoration." SankaraFilms, Letterboxd