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38 pages 1 hour read

The Rez Sisters

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1986

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Book Brief

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Tomson Highway

The Rez Sisters

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1986
Book Details
Pages

118

Format

Play • Fiction

Period
Setting

Wasaychigan Hill • 1980s

Publication Year

1986

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

The Rez Sisters by Tomson Highway is a two-act play that follows seven women on the Wasaychigan Hill Indian Reserve in Canada as they plan a trip to Toronto for a major bingo game, revealing their dreams and struggles along the way. Sensitive topics such as sexual assault, domestic violence, and illness are discussed throughout the play.

Contemplative

Emotional

Bittersweet

Mysterious

Melancholic

Reviews & Readership

4.0

1,849 ratings

55%

Loved it

31%

Mixed feelings

13%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Tomson Highway's The Rez Sisters is lauded for its vibrant portrayal of Indigenous women and their dreams, interwoven with humor and heartache. Critics praise its rich character development and cultural resonance. Some note the play can feel disjointed or overly ambitious, but it remains a powerful, essential work that explores personal and communal resilience.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Rez Sisters?

Ideal for readers interested in indigenous culture, feminist themes, and dark humor, The Rez Sisters will captivate fans of works like Louise Erdrich's Love Medicine or Sherman Alexie's The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. Those who appreciate dramatic storytelling intertwined with social issues will find this play fulfilling.

4.0

1,849 ratings

55%

Loved it

31%

Mixed feelings

13%

Not a fan

Character List

Pelajia Patchnose

The eldest of the seven sisters, Pelajia is depicted as a hardworking woman who often wears men's coveralls and is frequently seen with her hammer. Her journey in the play reflects her shifting views about life on the reserve versus the allure of city life.

As the second eldest sister, Philomena provides comic relief with her bathroom humor and dreams openly about winning at bingo. Her time in Toronto challenges her personal dreams and desires.

A mother of many children, Marie-Adele grapples with her health and is connected to Nanabush, a trickster spirit. Her storyline weaves into themes of family, mortality, and connection to otherworldly elements.

A music enthusiast and younger sister of Marie-Adele, Annie navigates her role as a singer and her personal connections throughout the play. Her movements and energy are telling of her evolving emotional state.

Younger sister to Annie and Marie-Adele, Emily is known for her tough demeanor and ties to the motorcycle world. Her journey involves redefining her connections to family and community after life-altering events.

Veronique is the outspoken sister-in-law with a strong Catholic faith, often finding herself at odds with the other sisters. She is the adoptive mother of Zhaboonigan and has dreams of caring for the children on the reserve.

The youngest character, Zhaboonigan deals with her intellectual disability and traumatic past while forming significant bonds with the other sisters and Nanabush, the spirit that symbolizes the otherworldly in the play.

Book Details
Pages

118

Format

Play • Fiction

Period
Setting

Wasaychigan Hill • 1980s

Publication Year

1986

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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