Artifact 4: Photograph of E. Pauline Johnson.

Emily Pauline Johnson, also known as Tekahionwake, was born to a Mohawk chieftain father and an English mother. She was an influential poet and performer, and her shows often had many in attendance. Her works showed her loyalty for Canada, but not the Canada riddled with politicians and racism tearing down her people. Johnson was a Mohawk nationalist and her works often depicted nature, as well as her struggles with being Mohawk and English.

One of Johnson’s works, “The Iroquois Women of Canada,” comes after three other entries that speak about Indigenous women. The previous pieces present Indigenous women as less civilized and domestic. Johnson’s piece, which comes last, describes Iroquois women as hardworking and intelligent, bearing roles and responsibilities beyond housework, such as being a part of the Iroquois Government.

Johnson weaved political matters into her works. She was outspoken in her craft, criticizing pieces of legislation that discriminated against Indigenous people. Her work gave a platform for Indigenous women to find a sense of identity, advocating for Indigenous women’s self-governance and autonomy through her writing.

Bibliography:

Leighton, Mary Elizabeth. “Performing Pauline Johnson: Representations of ‘the Indian Poetess’ in the periodical press, 1892-95.” Essays on Canadian Writing no. 65 (Fall, 1998): 141-164. ProQuest.

Pauline Johnson, Emily. 1900. “The Iroquois Women of Canada.” In Women of Canada: Their Life and Work. National Council of Women of Canada. https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.11965/466