Tomson highway husband

Tomson highway pianist

Tomson Highway was born in a tent near Maria Lake, Manitoba in He was the 11 th of 12 children born to Joe and Pelagie Philomene Highway. His father, Joe, was an accomplished hunter, fisherman and sled-dog racer. His family lived a nomadic lifestyle and his first language was Cree. His parents, with no access to books, TV or radio, would tell their children stories, and Tomson fell in love with the oral tradition of storytelling.

When he was six, he was taken from his parents and family and placed in residential school in The Pas. Although he resented being taken away from his parents and family, he did learn music, and had plans to become a concert pianist. But instead of becoming a professional concert musician, Highway instead decided to dedicate his life to the service of his people.

He composed music for Native theatre, and in , Highway joined the Native Earth Performing Arts Company in Toronto, the first and most enduring Native professional company in Canada. His first published play is The Rez Sisters His second play, Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing , takes place on the same reserve and features the men.

More controversial than The Rez Sisters , Highway pushes the envelope and looks to expose the problems, challenges and injustices that the Native population faces. Both plays won the Dora Mavor Moore Award. Highway is currently workshopping his latest play, Rose , in Toronto. The play is a musical that uses different genres of music to explore gender and race identity.

It was performed by a group of student actors at University College Toronto in Lee Skallerup.