Being tied to a culture can be detrimental to a person because it can affect how they are treated by others or even the government. Indigenous people have different customs and cultures, but they are all exposed to unpleasant realities, such as removal of their land, denial of their culture, attacks, and even being treated as second-class citizens. Those who are closely tied to their culture in Canada were placed on reserves, in order to convert them to Christians. To this day, First Nation's peoples still live on reserves (though they are not forced to change their cultures) that are subject to horrible living conditions. It is evident that the conditions of these reserves today have not changed much since they were created, as explained by Kazi Stasna in her CBC article; "Housing on reserves is generally substandard, dilapidated and overcrowded” (Stasna CBC). First Nation’s people are forced to be on these reserves, because they are tied closely to their culture, resulting in them living a poor life. Also, Stasna’s article includes a quote from Chief Shawn Atleo, who stated “There’s slop pails, no running water, and no reliable power” (Chief Shawn Atleo in Kazi Stasna’s CBC article). These quotes prove how poor life on the reserve is, and what First Nations must deal with, due to their culture.
A family in the First Nations community of Pikangikum in northwestern Ontario. Overcrowding is a major problem on many reserves, where housing is in short supply and living conditions often substandard. (CBC news)
In The Rez Sisters, the recurring themes throughout the story highlight the conditions of reservations as well as challenges the characters face due to their culture. The sisters in the play experience loss of culture as well as new cultures they are forced into.These themes, represent how being tied to a culture can be detrimental to a person. For example, the sisters plan on travelling to Toronto in order to take part in a Bingo, in hopes of winning, therefore granting them much-needed money for their basic needs such as “That toilet im dreaming about… big and wide and very white…” (Highway 5). The sisters do not have access to basic equipment, such as a toilet, representing the challenges they face on the reserve. In terms of forced culture, the First Nations people on the reserve were to be converted into the Christianity religion, this can be seen in the play when “[Veronique] makes a quick sign of the cross without skipping a beat” (Highway 26). The First Nation’s sisters in the play are forced to change their culture and religion to conform with the expectations (new culture) on the reserve. By stripping them of their culture and religion, it also takes a part of their identity, leading to them becoming lost or without cause. In the play, Philomena knows there is nothing left to lose so she accepts life on the reserve, but it is evident that the others want to leave, as Philomena argues “And don’t give me none of this ‘I don’t like this place. I’m tired of it.’ This place is too much inside your blood. You can’t get rid of it. And it can’t get rid of you.” (Highway 4). Philomena has accepted the fact that they will never rid the reservation from their minds and it is something that will stick with them forever.
In conclusion, the symbols and themes in The Rez Sisters, as well as current conditions of reservations today, highlight how being tied to a culture can be detrimental to a person.
Works Cited
Highway, Tomson. The Rez Sisters. Markham ON, Fifth House Ltd., 1988.
Stastna, Kazi. “First Nations Housing in Dire Need of Overhaul.” CBC, 26 Nov. 2011,
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/shacks-and-slop-pails-infrastructure-crisis-on-native-reserves-1.1004957.
Accessed 12 Apr. 2014.
Myles, your take on The Rez Sisters and how being tied to a culture can be detrimental to a person is very accurate. I agree with your view on how the isolation and poor living environment have consequences. The sisters are all exposed to these consequences while living on the unhealthy environment of the reserve. Highway does a good job in illustrating these problems, and you realized that. The fact that the characters only wish for basic needs such as a toilet with the prize money from the bingo proves the terrible conditions of the reserve that they live on. The conditions of the reserve is not their only problem, the overcrowding and no reliable power are recognized not only in the play, but also has been in ongoing problem across Canada to this day. I like how you brought the real life problems of the reserves into comparison with the struggles that sisters face in the play. This is a problem the government has failed to acknowledge for years, and is affecting the many people living on these reserves. You made very many valid points on how these reserves, and being tied to a culture can be detrimental to a person and it’s something that should be resolved as soon as possible. Being forced into a new religion, and forced to live somewhere crowded with unreliable resources is something no one should have to go through, especially in Canada.
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