Drew Hayden Taylor is a Canadian playwright, journalist and author who’s much admired writing spans across short stories, essays, newspaper columns, magazines and film and TV work.
Born in Curve Lake, Ontario, Taylor is part Caucasian and part Ojibwe. When discussing his heritage, he has said: ” Because I am half Ojibway and half Caucasian, I plan to start my own nation[…] called the occasions.” He once commented in a Globe and Mail essay that “Fighting over status [and] skin colour, etc [are all the things that] increase the sense of dysfunction in our community.”
Taylor has been a frequent contributor to various magazines, such as This Magazine, writing about First Nations culture. In 2004 he became a member of the Ontario Ministry of Culture Advisory Committee.
In addition to his excellent writing feats, Taylor has taught at the Centre for Indigenous Theatre and has been the artistic director of Native Earth Performing Arts. In 2007, he co-created APTN’sMixed Blessings and has written for Street Legal, The Beachcombers, and North of 60.
Taylor has been a writer-in-residence positions at a number of esteemed organisations, including Cahoots Theatre, Native Earth Performing Arts, the University of Western Ontario, The University of Michigan, the Stephen Leacock Festival and many more.