René Highway

René Highway (November 6, 1954 – October 19, 1990^[1]) was an Indigenous Canadian dancer and actor of Cree descent from Brochet, Manitoba. He was the brother of playwright Tomson Highway, with whom he frequently collaborated during their time at Native Earth Performing Arts in Toronto, and the partner of actor and singer Micah Barnes.

René Highway
Born	(1954-11-06)November 6, 1954 Brochet, Manitoba, Canada
Died	October 19, 1990(1990-10-19) (aged 35) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Resting place	Leaf Rapids Cemetery, Leaf Rapids, Manitoba, Canada
Known for	dancing · acting
Partner	Micah Barnes
Relatives	Tomson Highway (brother)

Highway studied dance at the Toronto Dance Theatre, at the Tuukaq Teatret [da] in Denmark, and at the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto. Highway helped to create the role of Nanabush in his brother's play The Rez Sisters (1986), and was the choreographer for Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing (1989).^[2]

He died of AIDS-related causes in Toronto in 1990. His partner was singer Micah Barnes.^[3]

Native Earth Performing Arts started the René Highway Foundation in his memory.

Further reading

• Scudeler, J. ' Fed by Spirits: Mamâhtâwisiwin in René Highway's New Song... New Dance' in Native American and Indigenous Studies, Vol. 3, No. 1 (2016), pp. 1–23, available at: https://www.academia.edu/32593127/Fed_by_Spirits_Mama_hta_wisiwin_in_Rene_Highways_New_Song_New_Dance.

References

1. "Rene Highway". Find A Grave. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
2. Citron, Paula (October 20, 1990). (PDF). The Toronto Star. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
3. Purvis, Lara (May 5, 2009). "I'm aggressively single: Micah Barnes". Xtra Magazine.

External links

• René Highway at IMDb