qathet film society presents
3 Ears Indigenous Film Festival
Sweet Summer Pow Wow
Sweet Summer Pow Wow
Tuesday September 30 – 7pm
Directed by: Darrell Dennis
Co-written by Darrell Dennis and Katya Gardner
Genre: Romance
Stars: Tatyana Rose Baptiste, Joshua Odjick, Graham Greene, Tanis Parenteau, Joel Montgrand.
Rated PG – 1 hour 32 min
Released: 2025
Sweet Summer Pow Wow is a sweet, romantic and aspirational drama and romance about 17 year olds Jinny and Riley; Jinny is touring as an owl dancer the summer before she is set for university. Jinny is unsure the direction of her life while Riley lives at home with his abusive, alcoholic father and dreams of a better future. Jinny’s mother, Cara, is eager to see her daughter follow the narrow path of success she herself was never encouraged to pursue. Needless to say, Cara does not approve of Riley, whom she sees as a needless distraction and potential life-ruiner, leaving Jinny torn between her love for Riley and wanting to please her mother.
They meet at a traditional summer festival which is important to their native culture, while dealing with the pressures of the community, tradition and families they come from over a summer to fall in love, even though they come from totally different dynamics and backgrounds in their native communities. Jinny is the daughter of Cara (Tanis Parenteau) a celebrated Chief of their tribe, a Lawyer and champion to the cause Native Canadians, a legend in the community and extremely well respected. Jinny at times finds the weight of her mother’s legacy and expectations are heavy a crown to carry at times.
It is a story of following your purpose, trusting your instincts and being true to yourself on life’s journey which is not black & white. Writer and director Darrell Dennis balances the modern struggles challenges and family dynamics of the Native Canadian against the innocent love of a young indigenous couples experience. Sweet Summer Pow Wow is a love story that delves into tradition and identity, even as it investigates the extra pressure teens endure from their parents — whether those parents are overbearing or woefully uninvolved. Both Jinny and Riley must figure out how they’re going to live their lives and achieve their dreams. The cast of Sweet Summer Pow Wow includes Graham Greene, who plays the MC at the Pow Wow and who includes bits of wisdom, philosophy and comedy in his announcements There’s also Lisa C. Ravensbergen as Jinny’s madcap aunt, and Tyler Peters as a local kid who looks up to Riley and longs to be a superhero.
The film is charming and often funny and the characters are appealing. First Nations filmmaker Darrell Dennis The Great Salish Heist (screened at last year’s 3 Ears festival) has spoken about the importance of Indigenous stories coming from a place of strength rather than trauma. He has created attractive young heroes in the characters of Jinny and Riley.
The final Pow Wow dance scene is a watermark in the portrayal of aboriginal themed film focusing on extra-reserve life and culture so admirably accomplished in the Canadian television series Tales from the Rez, Jason and the film The Great Salish Heist. Aboriginal themed productions have lunged beyond stereotypical and morose to a new more inspiring and optimistic bent.
Lisa C. Ravensbergen as Nora and Graham Greene as the one liner Pow Wow MC absolutely shine. Young Tyler Peters as Sawyer is a talent to watch. What a natural!