Unable to continue his schooling past grade six, he worked at a variety of jobs, including radio copywriter.
Ryga continued to study, taking correspondence courses, and winning a scholarship to the Banff School of Fine Arts.
The work, considered by many to be the most important English-language play by a Canadian playwright, is the story of a young native woman arriving in the city who finds that she has no place with either her own people or the white man.
The distinctive track, strongly influenced by First Nations musical forms, became a signature tune in live shows by Chilliwack for many years afterward.
A wall plaque to commemorate George Ryga was installed in the newly-opened Summerland Library in October of 2015.