A "rez" man himself, Tomson Highway has transformed the spiritual and cultural lessons of his youth into drama. He was born in Manitoba, Canada, on his father's trap-line ("in a tent, like all his brothers and sisters") on December 6, 1951 (some sources cite 1952). He spoke only Cree until the age of six, when he was sent to study at a Roman Catholic boarding school. He stayed there until he was 15, visiting his family only two months each summer. After finishing grade nine, Highway was sent to high school in Winnipeg, where he lived with various white foster parents. He graduated in 1970.

Since he was a "musical prodigy" in high school, Highway next spent two years at the University of Manitoba studying piano a pursuit that he continued the following year, studying to be a concert pianist in London. After this year abroad, Highway returned to Canada, where...