The Benefits Of Being In A Familial Sisterhood

Women who are apart of a sisterhood understand each other. The best benefits of sisterhood include sharing your thoughts, showing your honest feelings, and being to be authentic. Sisterhood is a protected space to share and mend, particularly helpful when it seems like the world is against you. A central theme in The Rez Sisters written by Tomson Highway, is sisterhood as seen in the development of the characters relationship from hostile to a close community and each women have distinct characteristics, but are not really different from each other. Through the story of seven Native women, Tomson portrays the theme of sisterhood which shows the hardships of women living on a reserve. During the course of the play the characters relationships developed from hostile to a close community. The women in this play are all related in a way which also differ depending on their previous experiences with one another and their lifestyle on the reservation. An example in the play is when women are in a van on their way to the biggest bingo in the world. In the van the women exchanged stories and were honest with each other which created new relationships and old ones were developed and restored. By the time they got to the bingo they felt closer to one another than before as shown by Emily, “ We’re sisters, right? Gimme five” (Highway 100). When the women are all together in the van they uncover their feelings and soul to one another in a way they have not before and may never do again. This quote shows that they found strength within each other. 

Furthermore, the progression of their relationship is portrayed through their common goal to win the biggest bingo in the world. The play allows for the readers to feel as if they have been apart of a remarkable, life lasting sisterhood. As can be seen, the relationships of the women developed from hostile to a close community throughout the play. Each woman in the play has distinct personalities and characteristics, but deep down they are not really different from each other. They all want to create a better world for themselves and each other displaying their urge to rise above their surrounding which is the reserve they live on. An example in the play is Pelajia’s first line, “Philiomena. I want to go to Toronto” (Highway 2). This quote reveals Pelajia’s desire to escape her dull boring life in Wasy. Although, Pelajia has spent all her life on the reserve, she believes that a life far from the reserve is better. Each woman feels the same way Peljia does which is to escape from their lives on the reserve. This allows the women to become closer. Another example in the play is through each women and their dreams. Everyone has a different dream, but the one thing they have in common is to get rid of the agony in their lives. Philomena first says she wants to buy a big white toilet with her bingo money. 

Philomena later reveals that she really wants her child that she had to give up, “You know what I’m gonna do with the money if I win? I’m gonna find a lawyer. Maybe I can find that child.” (Highway 81). This quote shows what Philomena really wants to do with the money. Each woman has experienced a great amount of pain for instance Marie-Adele has cancer, Veronique can not have children, Zhaboonigan was sexually abused, and Pelajia and Emily both want to escape the reserve. Evidently, this shows that the woman all have pain in their lives that they want to get rid of. The pain and agony that they have in common allows them to become closer to one another creating a sisterhood where they can be their true authentic self. All their dreams reveal something about their past and the world they live in. Therefore, each woman is very unique from one another but all they truly want is to live a better life. Through the development of the characters relationship from hostile to a close community, and the distinct characteristics of each woman portrays the main theme of sisterhood in The Rez Sisters. As seen in the play sisterhood is a bond between women who share common goals and interests. Sisterhood means never having to stand alone because people will always be there to love and support you. This play teaches about the significance of a sisterhood and the true meaning of friendship.