The Ecstasy of Rita Joe follows Rita Joe, a young Indigenous woman who leaves her reservation and comes to the city of Vancouver, in hopes of finding freedom from the limitations of reserve life. However, once in the city, she experiences racism, marginalization, and, finally, rape and murder. The Ecstasy of Rita Joe is a seminal work in modern Canadian drama and is a commentary on the systematic prejudice and discrimination faced by the Indigenous peoples of Canada. Told in an expressionistic, stream-of-consciousness style with disconnected scenes, songs, and monologues, Rita Joe reflects on her youth and the hardships she has faced during her various arraignments in the judicial system. George Ryga’s political play presents a reflection on the consequences of the colonization of the Indigenous peoples of Canada.
The Ecstasy of Rita Joe guide sections
