Pauline Johnson (1861-1913)

Pauline Johnson was a Metis born in 1861 on the Six Nations Reserve in Brantford, Ontario. Her Mohawk name was Tekahionwake. Pauline's father was a Mohawk Chief and her mother was English. She grew up in an interesting home where she lived with both First Nations and English traditions. She wrote poetry at an early age. When her father died she had to find a way to support herself so she started selling her poetry. One night she was invited to read her poetry in front of an audience. She read "A Cry from an Indian Wife." The audience was thrilled. She quickly became known for her readings and was sent to England several times to entertain British artists and nobility.

Pauline travelled back and forth across Canada by herself, reading poetry in First Nations villages and small towns. Pauline loved nature and enjoyed her travels through Canada where she often camped and canoed.

She was well loved for her poems and songs which entertained and taught respect for First Nations people. After being on the road for fourteen years, she decided to settle down in Vancouver. She became ill and died two years later. She was very poor when she died. During her life she made no more than $500 from the sale of her poetry. There is a monument to her in Stanley Park in Vancouver.

(A part of her poem from the book Flint and Feather.)

What Do You Think?

1. How did Pauline try to spread respect for First Nations people?

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2. Do you know about any woman doing this kind of work now for First Nations people or for other groups? Write about her.

Find the missing words in the story:

1. Pauline's Mohawk name was _________________________________________.

2. Her father was _____________ and her mother was _______________________.

3. She wrote ____________________ at an early age.

4. She was invited to ___________________________________ to read her poetry.

5. She travelled across Canada for __________________________________ years.

6. When she died she was very ______________________.

7. She made no more than $500 from her __________________________ in her life.

Figuring Out the Past

1. How many years ago was Pauline born? ________________________________
(Subtract the year she was born from the year now.)

2. How old was Pauline when she died? __________________________________
(Subtract the year of her birth from the year of her death.)

3. Pauline moved to Vancouver two years before she died. How old was she when she moved to Vancouver? _____________________________________________________
(Subtract two years from her age when she died.)

If you want to read more about Pauline look for:
Her Story: Women from Canada's Past by Susan Merritt
Flint and Feather: The Complete Poems of E. Pauline Johnson
Pauline Johnson by Brenda Willoughby