Cottagers and Indians

by Drew Hayden Taylor

Cottagers and Indians explores the politics and issues surrounding a real-life event still occurring in the Kawartha Lakes region of Central Ontario. An Indigenous man, Arthur Copper, has taken it upon himself to repopulate the nearby lakes with wild rice, known amongst the Anishnawbe as Manoomin, much to the disapproval of the local non-Indigenous cottagers, Maureen Poole in particular. She feels the plant interferes with boating, fishing, swimming, and is generally an eyesore that brings down the property values of her cottage and those of her neighbours. Drew Hayden Taylor’s thirty-second play is a powerful dramatization of contemporary confrontations taking place between environmentalism and consumerism, Indigenous and non-Indigenous sensibilities.

Genres: Indigenous, Plays, School, Read For School, Canada, Drama, Theatre

128 pages, Paperback

First published June 25, 2019

About the author

During the last thirty years of his life, Drew Hayden Taylor has done many things, most of which he is proud of. An Ojibway from the Curve Lake First Nations in Ontario, he has worn many hats in his literary career, from performing stand-up comedy at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., to being Artistic Director of Canada's premiere Native theatre company, Native Earth Performing Arts. He has been an award-winning playwright (with over 70 productions of his work), a journalist/columnist (appearing regularly in several Canadian newspapers and magazines), short-story writer, novelist, television scriptwriter, and has worked on over 17 documentaries exploring the Native experience. Most notably, he wrote and directed REDSKINS, TRICKSTERS AND PUPPY STEW, a documentary on Native humour for the National Film Board of Canada.

He has traveled to sixteen countries around the world, spreading the gospel of Native literature to the world. Through many of his books, most notably the four volume set of the FUNNY, YOU DON'T LOOK LIKE ONE series, he has tried to educate and inform the world about issues that reflect, celebrate, and interfere in the lives of Canada's First Nations.

Self described as a contemporary story teller in what ever form, last summer saw the production of the third season of MIXED BLESSINGS, a television comedy series he co-created and is the head writer for. This fall, a made-for-tv movie he wrote, based on his Governor General's nominated play was nominated for three Gemini Awards, including Best Movie. Originally it aired on APTN and opened the American Indian Film Festival in San Francisco, and the Dreamspeakers Film Festival in Edmonton.

The last few years has seen him proudly serve as the Writer-In-Residence at the University of Michigan and the University of Western Ontario. In 2007, Annick Press published his first Novel, THE NIGHT WANDERER: A Native Gothic Novel, a teen novel about an Ojibway vampire. Two years ago, his non-fiction book exploring the world of Native sexuality, called ME SEXY, was published by Douglas & McIntyre. It is a follow up to his highly successful book on Native humour, ME FUNNY.

The author of 20 books in total, he is eagerly awaiting the publication of his new novel in February by Random House as "One of the new faces of fiction for 2010", titled MOTORCYCLES AND SWEETGRASS. In January, his new play, DEAD WHITE WRITER ON THE FLOOR, opens at Magnus Theatre in Thunder Bay. Currently, he is working on a new play titled CREES IN THE CARRIBEAN, and a collection of essays called POSTCARDS FROM THE FOUR DIRECTIONS. More importantly, he is desperately trying to find the time to do his laundry.

Oddly enough, the thing his mother is most proud of is his ability to make spaghetti from scratch.

Reviews

[Agra Baroti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everybody in Canada should read this.

[gwen · Rating 1 out of 5]

*for school

[Jaida · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was funny, and both of the characters were written very well. But, I probably never would've read it if it were not part of the curriculum for English class. I am happy that it was introduced to me because I never read plays and I actually quite enjoyed this one.

[abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

i think this was actually beautifully written and super interesting to read. i would have never read this if it wasn’t for english class. i really really liked this play.

[brielle andrews · Rating 1 out of 5]

the play i wrote for grade 10 drama class was better than this. i hate when im reading a play and the way the dialogue is written reminds me it’s a play. also both the characters annoyed the shit out of me

[Edwin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Important topic, based on true story, but characterization is not necessarily extremely true to CBC documentary.

My main issue with it is the humour. It is unbelievably unfunny, in that most of the jokes were either completely beat to death in pop culture (joke about socialism, NDP, and how socialists "like to share"), sound like a 5 year old came up with it (e.x. speaking a different language to confuse your "victim", responding to each other mockingly, etc.), or is so tongue in cheek that rather than coming off as humourous, it is extremely uncomfortable.

The character of Maureen is cartoonishly racist. It takes until near the middle to end of the book when substantive and nuanced indigenous issues are discussed. In general it feels as though the kind of arguments that the author is making are not indented for the same audience as one that would pick up the book in the first place.

Honestly otherwise the book is great. It's quite a good read if you just take a breath everytime someone says something a little hard to swollow.

EDIT: changed the review a little bit because I originally wrote it when I had to read it for English Class, i.e. not under the best circumstances.

[Steven · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute play but doesn't really hold up well. It's clearly rooting for one person and painting the other a villain so you know who wins. The audience is never given the option of asking questions and instead is just given the answer the playwright wants.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

TIMELY and a Delight!

[Olivia Druxerman]

as someone who doesn’t have a cottage, I found this quite funny

[Rachel Ashera Rosen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like everything else Drew Hayden Taylor has ever written, this slaps. It's a funny and surprisingly moving fictionalization of the real story of Anishinaabeg people trying to plant manoomin (wild rice) on their traditional lands, over the opposition of mostly white cottagers. The Karen who goes to war with our hero in this could have easily been a caricature, but both characters are written with empathy and depth.

(That said, I will never own a cottage, let alone by a lake, but if I did, I'd be overjoyed if someone who knew what they were doing planted manoomin there! It's the tastiest thing and I'd eat it all the time if it wasn't so expensive. JFC what is wrong with people.)

[Ayny · Rating 5 out of 5]

terrific story and script. laugh out loud funny, clever dialogue.

[insi]

i don't know why i volunteered to read this in front of my class and kayla made me be the lady with white privilege. i don't even know what went on in this book because i spent the entire time trying to make sure i wouldn't accidentally swear in front of everyone. all i remember is chicken.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witty, sharp, complex and honest. Drew Hayden Taylor does and excellent job of portraying the complexities of this situation by drawing parallels and stark differences between the two characters. Might want to teach this one…

[W M]

This play slays, it is non-stop. As Taylor states in the forward, it is interesting that the play is about the cottagers, yet it is so well attended by cottagers.

The afterword by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson was originally published elsewhere, but is an excellent addition to the text. Mark Charles's presidential run in the States focuses on conciliation. The need for conversations around land cannot be underestimated.

[Deb Mohr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really admire Drew. His comedy and drama is well thought out, and this play is no exception. I also saw it performed. It is a sensitive topic that relates directly to the area we live in but it would be an enjoyable read for anyone interested in indigenous topics and writers.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely hilarious but also has some touching moments of genuine human connection.

[Cleo · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a dialogue-heavy play, and also a humorous one, the play depends a lot on the jokes as the two main characters interact. My issue with it is that most of the jokes, if not all- falls flat, because it feels 'cheap'. Race and identity based jokes that are overdone in media in general gets repetitive and especially the ones that jokes about Christian ideals, very true- but also at the same time I have heard them 10 times elsewhere. Through if you find cliche jokes funny, as there is a sort of ironic charm to them- this play might just be your jam.
That being said, this is a short 1-act play, and the 2 main characters are really the only characters. They have a lot more layers to their dialogue around the end of the play, and personally I can't help but feel like it missed a point to possibly bring in more dimensions and perspectives throughout the entire play.
The two characters comes from polar opposites of perspectives, yet there is similarities within them. They are both people who has gone through hurt and pain. This dichotomy does make the relationship somewhat more dynamic.
One point I appreciated very much about the play is the ending. I think it was a beautiful ending following up all the debate and loathing the characters had with each other, it really feels like a nice point to stop through all the dichotomy, and it is a good example of many Indigenous philosophies.

[Liya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was forced to read this for school and my initial thought wasn't too pleasant about having to read a boring play. However, I was proven very wrong when I started reading it; it is hilarious, educational, and not boring at all! I would totally recommend this to anyone who's interested in learning about Native and Non-Native people and the similarities between them.
I would have given it a 5-star rating but I believe that the ending could have been more interesting or solid, but I understand why that could not have been possible since this dispute is still ongoing in current time. Nonetheless, I am happy that I was granted the opportunity of reading Cottagers and Indians.

[Jeffrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am looking for a play for my Indigenous Literature course, but this didn't do it for me. Taylor is a very talented writer. I use one of his essays in my class, and there are some really funny moments in the play, but mostly the play comes across as very political and preachy. Taylor gets credit for trying to make the white character sympathetic |(I actually felt more sympathetic for her), but there was a lot of exposition about the history of Indigenous issues in the area. Important issues, but I prefer it to be a little more subtle in the literature I read.

[Michael Primiani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Humorous and more light hearted than some other Indigenous literature I could have shared with my Grade 11 students, CAI still provides crucial information about Indigenous-White Canadian relations but done with Curb Your Enthusiasm style banter between an Indigenous man and a well to do white cottage owner over wild rice. The real story is even more nuts. Some laugh out loud moments and having students read this with a bed of cottage nature sounds, loon squeals, boat motors and Tragically Hip was pretty fun

[Aristotle · Rating 5 out of 5]

i really enjoyed and felt touched by this play!

it’s very easy to understand and the humour is fantastically written. i think this is very important canadian literature, especially as a follow-up after reading Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese.

Cottagers and Indians describes very thoroughly and thoughtfully what it means to have white privilege in canada, and how it affects Indigenous and First Nations peoples.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I see at least a handful of reviews from readers who were assigned this in English class. Oh, how I wish I’d been assigned this instead of all the Shakespeare! Witty, insightful, and fast-paced, this play was a joy to read. I’d love to have the chance to catch it live.

[Rachel Nazareth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this play, but it was sad to see how Indigenous people have to continue to fight white settlers for their OWN LAND.

Decolonization is so necessary. Every person living in this country should read this play.

[Nayomi Hussain · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to read this play for a school assignment. I liked the humour and dialogue, as well as the underlying emotions that were described. I didn’t love it because it’s always hard to fully grasp playbooks because they’re meant to be watched and also the topic was a bit boring for me.

[Francis P · Rating 3 out of 5]

Characters were well-written — albeit infuriating — although Drew Hayden Taylor seemed to drag out his dialogue for it to reach a certain word count; both characters took a gratuitously long time to get to their point. There is also no resolution.

[Evelyn Lyons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw the play which was amazing then read it. Both are brilliant

[Katie Fry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great controversial topic.

[Alanna Schwartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny and real. This addresses the way I think of myself as a “cottager” and the way settlers find ways to prioritize their losses over the losses of indigenous people.

[Trina · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a wry and succinct play, DHT looks at the absurdities of settler- Indigenous land issues. I appreciated the essay afterword by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson very much.

[Vickie T · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story with the origins in a real life dispute between a man from my reserve who plants and harvests wild rice and settlers on Pigeon Lake. Laugh out loud funny.