Ian Ross: A Voice of the Prairies Silenced at 57

By: Donovan Martin Sr, Editor in Chief

The Winnipeg community is in mourning at the sudden passing of Ian Ross, the acclaimed Métis-Ojibwe playwright, radio humourist and mentor, who died on November 19, 2025 at the age of 57. Born in 1968 in McCreary, Manitoba, Ross grew up in the Métis community of Kinosota and later in Winnipeg, developing a passion for storytelling rooted in Indigenous experience and prairie culture.

From early on he showed an unusual blend of ambition and self-awareness. Initially on a pre-med track at university, Ross soon pivoted to the arts after realizing his true calling lay in theatre and writing. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Film & Theatre Studies from the University of Manitoba in 1990 and quickly began to make his mark.

His breakthrough came with the play fareWel, first staged in 1996, which follows a fictional First Nation community that declares self-government after its chief leaves to gamble in Las Vegas. The play was powerful, funny, satirical and incisive. At 29 years of age, Ross became the first Indigenous playwright to win the prestigious Governor General’s Award for English Drama—an achievement that cemented his place in Canadian theatre history.

Over the next decades Ross created a body of work that blended Indigenous themes, prairie humour and theatrical versatility. His smaller-scale productions toured regional theatres and festivals, and his radio alter-ego “Joe from Winnipeg” became a weekly fixture on CBC Radio One, where his wry commentary on politics and culture introduced him to a wider audience.

Behind the scenes he was known for his generosity and mentorship. Past collaborators recall his willingness to share his time and advice with younger Indigenous writers and performers, encouraging new voices in a scene that too often treated them as outsiders. On the Winnipeg stage he cultivated the next generation of prairie theatre talent.

His sudden passing has sent a ripple through the arts community. Colleagues have referenced not just his artistic voice but his presence: warm, thoughtful, quick with laughter yet serious about telling stories that mattered. The legacy of his work is visible in how Indigenous theatre in the Prairie region has grown and diversified.

The full impact of Ross’s absence is still being felt, but his influence is clear. He leaves behind a body of work that challenged stereotypes, celebrated rootedness and offered a genuine voice to prairie Indigenous life. A memorial service has yet to be scheduled, but in the months ahead, theatres, writers and communities are already beginning to mark his passing and honour his contributions.

For Manitoba, and for Canadian theatre, Ian Ross was more than a playwright. He was a storyteller who bridged worlds—Indigenous and settler, prairie and urban, humour and activism—and his voice will be deeply missed.