E. Pauline Johnson
E. Pauline Johnson, also known by her Mohawk name Tekahionwake, was a prominent Canadian poet and writer born in 1861 in Chiefswoods, Ontario. As the daughter of a Mohawk chief and an English woman, she navigated multiple cultural identities, which influenced her literary work. Johnson began her writing career in the late 1870s, gaining recognition through publications like Harper's Weekly and Mother's Magazine. By the 1890s, she had become a celebrated figure in Canada and even toured internationally, including a significant reading in London in 1894. Her poetry collection, *The White Wampum*, published during this time, received acclaim and marked her as a notable voice in literature. Johnson eventually settled in Vancouver, where she produced *The Legends of Vancouver*, drawing from local Indigenous stories. She continued to write until her death in 1913, leaving behind a legacy that included her posthumously published collection, *The Moccassion Maker*, recognized as a groundbreaking work by a woman. Johnson's contributions to literature remain an important part of Canadian and Indigenous literary heritage.
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Subject Terms
E. Pauline Johnson
Poet
- Born: March 10, 1861
- Birthplace: Six Nations Reserve, near Brantford, Ontario, Canada
- Died: March 7, 1913
- Place of death: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Biography
E. Pauline Johnson was born in 1861 in Chiefswoods, Ontario. Canada. The daughter of a Mohawk chieftain, she was educated at home before attending Brantford Collegiate in 1875, where she studied for two years. Johnson began publishing her poetry in the late 1870’s in such publications as Harper’s Weekly, Mother’s Magazine, Boy’s World, and Athenaeum, to great success. This prompted Johnson to begin giving public readings of her poetry, which further fueled her popularity.
By the 1890’s, Johnson was well known throughout Canada. In 1894, she was invited to read her poetry in London, where she met many literary figures and published a London edition of poetry, The White Wampum. The volume was released to excellent reviews and Johnson returned to tour Canada and the United States. She wrote three more collections of verse that were published between 1903 and 1913.
By the end of the 1890’s, Johnson had tired of her constant travel and decided to concentrate on her writing instead. After settling in Vancouver, British Columbia, Johnson published The Legends of Vancouver, based on local tribal stories. In 1913, Johnson finally succumbed to the cancer she had been fighting for some time. Shortly after her death, her collection of short stories, The Moccassion Maker, appeared and was considered to be a groundbreaking work by a woman.