Drew Hayden Taylor facts for kids

Drew Hayden Taylor (born 1 July 1962) is a well-known Indigenous Canadian writer. He creates plays, books, and articles. He is famous for his humor and for sharing stories about First Nations life.

Life and Career

Drew Hayden Taylor was born in Curve Lake, Ontario. His background is both Ojibwe and white. He often jokes about this mix. He once said, "I plan to start my own nation. We will be called the occasions." This shows his funny way of looking at his identity.

Drew writes a lot about First Nations culture. He wants to share these stories with everyone. He has written many different things. These include plays for the stage, short stories, and essays. He also writes newspaper columns. His work often appears in magazines like This Magazine.

He has also worked in film and television. In 2007, he helped create a TV series called Mixed Blessings. This show was for the APTN. He also wrote for popular shows like The Beachcombers, Street Legal, and North of 60. Drew has made documentary films too. These include Searching for Winnetou, Cottagers and Indians, and The Pretendians. These films tell real-life stories.

Drew has been a "writer-in-residence" at many places. This means he was a special guest writer. He worked with students and other writers. Some of these places include the University of Michigan and The University of Western Ontario. He also held this role at theatre groups like Native Earth Performing Arts.

In 2004, he joined an important group. It was the Ontario Ministry of Culture Advisory Committee. This group gives advice on cultural matters. His play Motorcycles & Sweetgrass was translated into French. The French version, Le Baiser de Nanabush, was chosen for a special book competition in 2023.