“I’ll let you in on a secret, I hate writing,” said Drew Hayden Taylor, with a laugh, flashing the sense of humour that defines much of his work. “If I could do anything else, I would, but I have no serviceable talent.”
No one should be fooled by Taylor’s self-deprecation. McGill’s 2025 Indigenous Studies and Community Engagement Initiative (ISCEI) Writer in Residence is a major figure in Canadian literature.
An Anishinaabe from the Curve Lake First Nation in Ontario, he is one of Canada’s foremost playwrights and humorists. Award-winning author of over 30 literary works, Taylor has had a profound impact on theatre, film and literature. A journalist and columnist, he has also written television scripts and worked on documentaries exploring the Indigenous experience.
Creating a universe
Originally, Taylor was discouraged from becoming a writer by his mother and by his Grade 11 English teacher, who both said writing would “lead nowhere.”
Nevertheless, he was determined to be a part of the arts scene, even if in a supporting role.
“I decided to be a hanger-on, a wannabe, an I’m-with-the-band type of person,” he said. “I went to college for radio and television broadcasting, and I spent most of my early 20s working in the industry, but not as an artist,” he said.
Taylor tried his hand at everything from sound technician to radio producer.
Opening the creative floodgates
That wasn’t enough to tamp down Taylor’s creative drive. It was an impulse that would not be denied.
“When I was about 25 my art finally tracked me down, kicked me in the butt and said, ‘it’s time for you to start writing.’”
An opportunity arose, and Taylor earned his first writing credit: an episode of the Beachcombers titled A House Divided, which aired in 1988.
From there, the words flowed. Taylor poured himself into writing theatre, then novels, short stories and more scripts for television and documentaries. Along the way, he has amassed accolades and awards across genres, including being a finalist for the Governor General’s Award for Drama in 2006 for In a World Created by a Drunken God and a finalist for the Governor General’s Award for Fiction in 2010 for Motorcycles & Sweetgrass.
“The great thing about being a writer is that you have more control over the universe you create than the universe you live in,” said Taylor. “And occasionally, you may just say something important or write something of depth. In this world of tumultuous events, frequently that’s all we can ask for.”
Novels are ‘marathons’
Taylor says he allows the story to determine the genre.
Ones that are driven by dialogue become plays, which he writes within 10-11 days.
Short stories are “a-day-in-the-life things.” Taylor will intersperse writing short stories with working on bigger projects.
Novels are “marathons,” taking months to finish. “You have to be pretty sure before starting to write a novel because it’s a good chunk of your life that you’re putting into it,” he said.
Passing the torch
Taylor has played a key role in bridging the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, expanding the definition of “Indigenous literature” and making it more widely accessible.
“I only write about Indigenous culture because it’s such a fertile ground to mine, and there’s so much the dominant culture is not aware of,” Taylor said. “I love digging deeper and presenting it in all its various forms.”
Taylor is proud to be a part of what he calls “the contemporary Native Literary Renaissance,” which saw a surge of Indigenous writers in the 1970s and ’80s:
“Tomson Highway, Daniel David Moses, Lee Maracle, Maria Campbell and Jeannette Armstrong, to name a few. We were so excited to have the chance to tell our stories,” said Taylor. “Since then, it’s been a like a snowball going down a hill, with more voices emerging. It’s not just a renaissance anymore; it’s established.”
Taylor is confident the next generation will continue to amplify the voices of the writers who preceded them.
“I’m often asked to review new books by young Indigenous authors, and I’m always really impressed,” he said. “It’s wonderful to see the next generation taking up the cause and telling the hell out of their stories.”
On February 26, from 4 to 6 p.m. in Leacock 232, Taylor will discus his life and his work. The event is free and open to all. Details.