George Ryga (27 July 1932 – 18 November 1987) was a Canadian playwright, actor and novelist. His writings explored the experiences of Indigenous peoples in Canada, among other themes. His most famous work is '' The Ecstasy of Rita Joe''.

Early years

Ryga was born in Deep Creek near Athabasca, Alberta to poor Ukrainian immigrant parents. Unable to continue his schooling past grade six, he worked at a variety of jobs, including radio copywriter. Ryga continued to study, taking correspondence courses, and winning a scholarship to the

Banff School of Fine Arts Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, formerly known as The Banff Centre (and previously The Banff Centre for Continuing Education), located in Banff, Alberta, was established in 1933 as the Banff School of Drama. It was granted full autonomy as ...

. In 1955, he traveled to Europe, where he attended the World Assembly for Peace in Helsinki and worked for the BBC. The following year he returned to Canada.

Career

While living in Edmonton, he published his first book, ''Song of My Hands'' (1956), a collection of poems. Ryga's first play, ''Indian'', was performed on television in 1961. He achieved national exposure with '' The Ecstasy of Rita Joe'' in 1967. The work, considered by many to be the most important English-language play by a Canadian playwright, is the story of a young native woman arriving in the city who finds that she has no place with either her own people or the white man. It was performed in Vancouver, at the National Arts Centre in

Ottawa Ottawa (, ; Canadian French: ) is the capital city of Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River in the southern portion of the province of Ontario. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the core ...

and in Washington state. In 1971, the work was performed as a ballet by the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Other plays by Ryga include: * ''Captives of the Faceless Drummer'' - 1971 * ''Sunrise on Sarah - 1972 * ''Portrait of Angelica'' - 1973 * ''Ploughmen of the Glacier'' - 1977 * ''In the Shadow of the Vulture'' - 1985 * ''Paracelsus'' - 1986 * ''Summerland'' - 1992 He made a significant contribution to popular music when he wrote lyrics for a series of songs composed by the members of the Vancouver-based band The Collectors for the soundtrack of his 1969 play ''Grass and Wild Strawberries''. ''Early Morning'', the single release from the resulting '' Grass & Wild Strawberries'' album, became a minor local hit, and the showstopping album track ''Seventeenth Summer'' was re-recorded by the band after it underwent a membership change and changed its name to Chilliwack. The distinctive track, strongly influenced by First Nations musical forms, became a signature tune in live shows by Chilliwack for many years afterward.

Death

He died in Summerland, British Columbia in 1987. His home was turned into the George Ryga Centre, an arts and culture centre, which existed until 2012 when it closed due to financial challenges. It is now in private hands.

Recognition

A biography, ''The Ecstasy of Resistance'', by James Hoffman, was published in 1995. Since 2004, the George Ryga Award for Social Awareness in Literature has been presented to a British Columbian writer who has published a book with significant social themes. The 2021 recipient was Geoff Mynett. A wall plaque to commemorate George Ryga was installed in the newly-opened Summerland Library in October of 2015. In 2016 th
Ryga Arts Festival
inspired by George Ryga, was started in Summerland and so far has continued through 2021. In 2020, a George Ryga archive was established at th
Summerland Museum

Bibliography

* ''Song of My Hands''. 1956 * ''Hungry Hills''. 1963 * ''Ballad of a Stone-Picker''. 1966 * ''The Ecstasy of Rita Joe''. 1970 * ''The Ecstasy of Rita Joe and Other Plays''. 1971 * ''Sunrise on Sarah'' - 1973 * ''Night Desk''. 1976 * ''Ploughman of the Glacier''. 1977 * ''Seven Hours to Sundown''. 1977 * ''Beyond the Crimson Morning''. 1979 * ''Two Plays: Paracelsus and Prometheus Bound''. 1982 * ''A Portrait of Angelica & A Letter to My Son''. 1984 * ''In the Shadow of the Vulture''. 1985 * ''The Athabasca Ryga'' - 1990 * ''Summerland''. 1992 * ''George Ryga: The Other Plays''. 2004 (edited by James Hoffman) * ''George Ryga: The Prairie Novels''. 2004 (edited by James Hoffman)

Film

*2009 - ''

Hungry Hills ''Hungry Hills'' is a 2009 Canadian Western drama film starring Keir Gilchrist, Alexander De Jorday, Alexia Fast, John Pyper-Ferguson and Gabrielle Rose. It is based on the novel of the same name by George Ryga. Plot Cast *Keir Gilchrist ...

'' *2018 - ''Just a Ploughboy: A film about George Ryga'', written and directed by Gina Payzant Reel Mensch Studios, Edmonton, AB, Canada.

References

External links

George Ryga & AssociatesGeorge Ryga
entry in The Canadian Encyclopedia
Ryga
item at

Athabasca University Athabasca University (AU) is a Canadian public research university that primarily operates through online distance education. Founded in 1970, it is one of four comprehensive academic and research universities in Alberta, and was the first ...

, English-Canadian Writers, by Joseph J. Pivato
Ryga archives at University of CalgaryRyga Festival Society
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ryga, George 20th-century Canadian dramatists and playwrights 20th-century Canadian novelists Canadian male novelists 1932 births 1987 deaths Canadian people of Ukrainian descent Canadian male dramatists and playwrights 20th-century Canadian male writers