Emily Pauline Johnson

Emily Pauline Johnson (1861-1913), also known by her Mohawk name Tekahionwake, was a Canadian poet, author, and performer celebrated for her poetry and stories that reflected both her Haudenosaunee (Mohawk) and English heritage. Born on the Six Nations Reserve near Brantford, Ontario, her father, George Henry Martin Johnson, was a respected Mohawk chief, while her mother, Emily Susanna Howells, was an English immigrant.

Johnson's early exposure to both indigenous and European cultures deeply influenced her literary work. Educated in Canadian schools, she developed a love for literature and began writing poetry at a young age. Her first collection of poems, "The White Wampum," published in 1895, gained wide acclaim.

A dynamic performer, Johnson toured extensively across Canada, the United States, and England, often dressed in traditional Mohawk attire during her readings, which helped her create a unique presence in a predominantly Eurocentric literary landscape. Her works often explore themes of identity, cultural conflict, and the natural world.

Despite facing racial and gender prejudices of her time, Johnson became one of the most recognized and beloved literary figures in Canada. Continuing her legacy, her final resting place in Vancouver’s Stanley Park continues to be a site of cultural significance and inspiration.