POV

Boomtown

Blink Stars and Grim Reapers. Thunderkings and Predators. Do you know your fireworks? Boomtown provides a lively visit to the Suquamish Nation near Seattle, where selling fireworks has become a tradition for some Suquamish tribal members. For 30 years, this part of Indian country has sold fireworks that are officially banned off the reservation, attracting non-Indian buyers from near and far. And then on July 4, the Suquamish tribe plays host to one of the most enjoyable and unpredictable fireworks shows around. In a place where federal, state and local policies routinely collide with Native sovereignty, Boomtown focuses on this animated enterprise, offering a glimpse of contemporary Indian life, where Native tradition meets today's economic realities with uniquely successful results.