The Plight of Native Indians in the Canadian Society as Revealed in Ryga’s Indian

Abstract

George Ryga felt the need to speak for those who could not speak for themselves. This attitude projects him as a committed writer with a lot of social concern. The relationship between the native minority groups like Indians, Inuit and Metis and the white majority in Canada is worth studying in length. Ryga has depicted some vital aspects of this complex relationship in two of his plays: Indian and Ecstasy of Rita Joe. Ryga’s first-hand experience adds to the vitality and vigour of these two plays. In this paper a close study of Indian is taken up to demonstrate how the native Indians were subjected to exploitation and discrimination.

The protagonist of the play Indian, the nameless Indian is a universal symbol; the name of any oppressed man can be used as his name. His very appearance is revealing. He is a swarthy, thin, long-haired man and wears tight-fitting jeans and dirty dark shirt. His cowboy boots are cracked and aged. Through him Ryga expresses his concern for the oppressed minority people all over the world. The Indian has no identity of his own; yet he can be identified with all suffering men. Watson, the White employer of the Indian and the Agent, a civil servant of the Indian Affairs Department, the other two characters in the play, symbolize the oppressing and moneyed class. So, at this level, the entire play can be interpreted as a struggle between the employer and the labourer. Watson represents exploitation, discrimination and inhuman attitude towards fellow human beings. The ethnic minorities get crushed under the heels of the economic power of the majority. It can make laws according to its need and convenience and force others to obey these laws blindly. The agent bears testimony to the long history of indifference and hypocrisy. The same people who exploit the minority maintain welfare agencies for these exploited minorities just as eyewash. It is nothing but sheer hypocrisy. At the expense of these oppressed class they lead comfortable life.