E 20- Toronto at Dreamer's Rock

We have been reading the play 'Toronto at Dreamer's Rock' by the renouned author and playwright: Drew Hayden Taylor.

Here is what we learned last week:

3 Main Characters (all from Ojibway/Odawa Nation):

Keesic- From the Past- Traditional
Rusty- From the Present- Caught in the middle
Michael - From the Future- No sense of culture

End up meeting at Dreamer's Rock, a real, spiritual place in central Ontario.

We learn that each character has their problems, some similar, some different.

Keesic- Likes girl from same clan....doesn't realize how much his life will soon change with the arrival of Europeans

Rusty- Girl problems, abusive father, identity crisis- to retain Aboriginal traditions or to be absorbed into dominant culture.

Michael- Girl problems, has lost culture.


Questions to consider:
What stereotypes does Taylor build up surrounding the characters and culture? How does he also tear them down? How does he use humour in this play to touch on big issues?

*** At the beginning of the week we did quick talks about marriage from several different cultures.