In these two plays, Drew Hayden Taylor delves into the past and speculates about the future as he examines the dilemmas facing young Native Canadians. Toronto at Dreamer's Rock is a moving portrayal of a teenage boy who is torn between the traditions of his people, which he only vaguely understands, and the lure of modern life. His magical encounters with two members of his tribe - one from 400 years in the past and one from the future - make him aware of how little he has thought about what it means to be an Indian. Education is Our Right borrows from the familiar story of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, but in this version the spirits of Education Past, Present and Future attempt to show the Minister of Indian Affairs the error of his ways. Drew Hayden Taylor combines humour, passion, spirituality, and tough realism to create a hopeful vision of the future. Both plays have toured extensively to schools in Ontario and Quebec.
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About the author
Drew Hayden Taylor
Drew Hayden Taylor is a Canadian playwright, author and journalist. Born in Curve Lake, Ontario, he writes predominantly about First Nations culture, and has been a frequent contributor to various magazines including This Magazine. His writing includes plays, short stories, essays, newspaper columns, and film and television work. In 2004 he was appointed to the Ontario Ministry of Culture Advisory Committee. As well as his writing, Taylor has been the artistic director of Native Earth Performing Arts, and has taught at the Centre for Indigenous Theatre. He co-created the series Mixed Blessings for APTN in 2007, and has been a writer for The Beachcombers, Street Legal and North of 60. Taylor is currently the writer-in-residence at the University of Western Ontario.
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