The Rez Sisters

The play is set in 1986, on the Wasaychigan Hill Indian Reserve (which the characters refer to as “Wasy”) in Ontario, Canada. The 53-year-old Pelajia Patchnose works on her roof while talking to her 49-year-old sister Philomena Moosetail about how she wants to go to Toronto. Philomena believes Pelajia will stay in Wasy, and they debate this topic.

Pelajia complains about the neighbors, but Philomena likes playing bingo on the reserve. Pelajia laments the loss of Indigenous stories and language, and thinks the other residents of the reserve are crazy. Philomena trips while going down the ladder to the roof, ripping her skirt. When she comes back up, they gossip about Big Joey and Gazelle, two other members of their community. Pelajia misses her husband and children, who are in Espanola and Toronto, respectively. She complains about the dirt roads in Wasy, and wants to win a big bingo jackpot and use the winnings to get paved roads built.

Annie Cook, the 36-year-old half-sister of Philomena and Pelajia, comes up to the roof. They gossip more about Gazelle winning bingo, as well as her relationship with Big Joey. Annie saw a country rock band play, and is expecting mail from her daughter who lives in Sudbury with a white man.