Emily Pauline Johnson (Tekahionwake)

Hello Roses,
I hope you all had a lovely weekend celebrating your nearest and dearest. We don’t always get the chance to so when the opportunity strikes, take it! Well boy do I have a story to share with you today. Have you heard the name Emily Pauline Johnson (Tekahionwake)?

Childhood
She was one of North America’s most notable entertainers in the 19th century; who also just so happened to be Metis. She was Metis and proud of it; as she should be. As anyone should be proud of their heritage and celebrate it. She was born March 10 1861 in what was then called Canada West on the Six Nations Reserve (confederacy of Aboriginal Nations or the Haudenosaunee Confederacy). She was bon to George H.M. Johnson who was also Metis and a member of the Mohawk, and an English mother Emily Susanna Howells.

Her father worked as an interpreter and cultural negotiator between the Mohawk, the British, and the Government of Canada. Her mother had immigrated with her family from England to the United States, and then later on to Canada where she met Johnson. Her family was well known for their contribution to the arts.
Due to poor health as a child Emily was unable to attend day school on the reserve with her siblings and fellow Indigenous children. Instead she was taught at home by her mother, other instructors, and her non-Indigenous governess receiving an European education. She began attending Brantford Central Collegiate at the age of 14 and graduated from there in 1877.

Her parents union was much criticized as it was mixed race, but nonetheless they were able to live and enjoy an upper class position; thanks to Johnson’s work as a cultural go-between. Emily grew up being taught to respect her Mohawk ancestry and learning the Mohawk language through her grandfather Chief John Smoke Johnson. In this time, and to this day, there was the threat of institutionalized racism, yet Emily made sure to honour her ancestry and heritage in all she did.

Work
Inspired by her upbringing and influencers around her like her parents, and more Emily began writing poetry in her teenage years. Her work was published numerous times in high-profile magazines and newspapers. She also published books filled with poems and short-stories told to her by Indigenous Chiefs and her own upbringing. Her work is best known for her portrayal of Indigenous Peoples.

After publishing several of her pieces, she embarked on speaking tours. Travelling throughout the United States and Canada, she performed to audiences pieces which mixed Indigenous culture with Anglo-Canadian culture. She used the money she received for publishing and speaking to support her and her family. After Emily’s father’s death she became the caretaker for her, her aging mother, and sister. As women were far more susceptible to poverty and atrocious behaviour in that time, from mainly men, she stepped up to ensure that would not happen to her family.

Eventually her oratory performances reached England, and Emily began to add Indigenous items into her shows and dressed in Mohawk dress, later changing into the English Victorian style. By doing this, it helped further her notoriety amongst audiences, readers, and people near and far.

Emily’s writings were largely influenced by confederacy and the turmoil which followed between Indigenous Peoples and Anglo-Canadians, nature, Indigenous culture, as well as her feminine identity. Her dual heritage was both a blessing and a curse. In White society she was unmarried and childless which meant she was scrutinized far more intensely the average married white woman. The fact that she was also Metis added more fuel to this unfortunate fire.

Despite her rise as a literary and performance wonder, Emily never made a lot of money. She was still in poverty, and doing her best to support her family. All this was happening as a call for better roles for women was occuring (as in not just mistresses of a household).

Criticism
As mentioned earlier as word spread about her work and performances she began adding Indigenous items and dress to her shows. She began commercializing the very heritage she was taught to respect and protect. Some scholars and historians argued this was needed in order for her to make a living to survive, but a great many more disagree.

Most of Emily’s shows were in front of predominantly White audiences. Many of whom had racist views towards Indigenous Peoples. She somewhat capitalized on this as her performances drew much from the prejudiced conceptions of the “Indian Princess” and the “noble savage” (as they are now called) and some more. The problem is that she was not too involved in Mohawk culture as an adult, and did not spend too much time amongst Indigenous People. Another issue was that in her works many of the interactions between Indigenous People and non-Indigenous People were overly romanticized.

At the same time though she wrote many pieces criticizing the way Indigenous People were portrayed, the stereotypes and blatant racism, the way the Church was interfering; while also diplomatically trying to improve relations.

Summary
Emily Pauline Johnson (Tekahionwake which means ‘double wampum’) did much to promote Indigenous People in a time when to do so was a taboo of sorts. She did not do this without her fair share of criticism, much of which was very true. Emily and her work made a lasting impression on people not just across Canada, but also in the United States, and England.

She passed away March 07 1913 in Vancouver BC at the age of 52, just three days shy of her 53rd birthday. Her childhood home is a National Historic Site in Canada. She was also one 12 women considered to be on the $10 bill.

No matter our opinion on her, Emily Pauline Johnson, a.k.a. Tekahionwake broke the barriers made to suffocate her as an Indigenous woman, who was single and childless, and has gone on to become one of Canada’s literary wonders. You can find a monument of her in Stanley Park; so next time you find yourself there make sure you stop to learn some more about this fascinating human.

There you have it Roses. I told you there was a story to tell today. Emily has been recognized as both a celebrated and controversial figure in Canadian history, but there is no denying the impact she had. We encourage all of you reading to call and visit your local First Nations Friendship Centre (make sure to bring a gift for the Elders, and to thank them for allowing you to be on their land if you decide to go). Learn more about Indigenous Peoples and the beauty of their cultures.

​As not just Canadians, but as humans we have a responsibility to start building relationships with those whose land this first was. It’s on us to learn, to build, and to help in anyway we can. Whether it is to further educate our peers, or help in the fight for justice (the missing and murdered Indigenous women, the pipeline, etc.). Regardless of where you stand on the political spectrum, your views, and more, taking that first step will change your world in more ways than one all for the better.

I hope Emily’s story and history can give a bit of insight into this world and why we must learn from each other. In the meantime don’t forget to check out our exciting Mother’s Day Event on May 27 2018! This is an event unlike any other you may have attended or heard about, and we are so excited to be the ones to host it! You can also find us on our various social media channels (links in social media bar). Until next time!

Signed,
RebelRoses

​LINKS:
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/pauline-johnson/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._Pauline_Johnson
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/emily-pauline-johnson
https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/aboriginal-heritage/first-nations/Pages/pauline-johnson.aspx