Powwow People

Powwows, where people express their identity through song and dance, are an important part of Native American community life. Filmmaker Sky Hopinka, a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, wanted to capture this on film, but not in a voyeuristic way. So he organized a powwow himself and invited singers, dancers, spectators, and even caterers. He filmed the entire day, which culminated in a men’s dance competition.