Faithfully Yours, E. Pauline Johnson exhibit to open at Woodland Cultural Centre

By L.M. VanEvery

Some refer to her as one of the first New Women. Some call her a poetic genius. However E. Pauline Johnson is described, she was definitely a pioneer in many ways.

She travelled the rails alone at a time when women did no such thing. She commented on social and political issues of the day. She not only wrote poetry but performed her original works as well. E. Pauline Johnson was a woman of strong character and generous talent.

From Chiefswood to Vancouver, Pauline led a life of adventure and performance. “Faithfully Yours, E. Pauline Johnson,” the first exhibit dedicated to the life, times and work of E. Pauline Johnson – Tekahionwake curated by Curator Emeritus, Thomas V. Hill tells the story of this life with many artifacts not seen before.

The planning stages for the exhibit began in 2004. There are over 250 artifacts that will be on display and tell the story of Pauline’s life from her birthplace at Chiefswood to her final resting place in Vancouver. The exhibit captures the life of a little girl who loved to write poetry and perform to a woman who travels across this country many times and becomes one of the most beloved national literary figures in Canada.

“Pauline has made a contribution to Canadian literature and is a source of inspiration to artists, painters, sculptors, writers and media artists,” said Curator Emeritus, Thomas V. Hill. “She was brought up in Iroquoian society which would have given women a political role. She began to think of the role of women politically and historically in Canada and most of her poems reflect that.”

After having seen the exhibit, Hill is confident that people will understand the importance that E. Pauline Johnson had in Canadian history. “They will see she has indeed made a contribution both in the arts and society at large,” said Hill.

Dr. Carole Gerson, Professor of English at Simon Fraser University, began researching Pauline Johnson’s work 10 years ago and is a contributor to the exhibit catalogue with her essay entitled, “The Many Voices of Pauline.” “In her lyrical poetry and eloquent prose, Pauline Johnson continues to speak to us about issues that are as important in our day as they were in hers: relations between Natives and non-Natives, between men and women and between human beings and the precious land.” “She was stunningly beautiful and amazingly talented,” said Gerson. “She was a very elegant and gracious woman, ahead of her time. There was something quite magical about her life.”

Gerson describes Pauline’s work as undervalued. “My students are surprised at how good it is and they don’t know about her at all.” As for her place in Canadian literature, Gerson says, “She finally has her place. It took a lot. Pauline now is really important as the breakthrough person.”

As a performer, E. Pauline Johnson made a dramatic impact on history. ‘Initially known as an 'Indian Princess' whose poetry and public performances embodied romantic stereotypes of 'Indianness', Pauline Johnson used her platform to promote positive images of the cultures and history of the First Nations in Canada. In addition to her well known books of poetry for which she has earned lasting fame, she contributed many articles to newspapers and magazines in Canada and Britain about issues affecting her people, especially the role of women in society. Perhaps her greatest contribution is that she was a positive role model of Indian womanhood at a time when the popular image was all too often negative,” said Dr. Trudy Nicks, ethno-historian at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). Dr. Nicks is a contributor to the exhibit catalogue with her essay, “Objects and Encounters” which details the Chiefswood collection at the ROM. “The exhibit will bring together personal and family objects, photographs and archival documents that provide a sense of the world that inspired the performances that earned Pauline fame in her lifetime and the writings that still capture our imagination to this day,” said Nicks.

Pauline retired to Vancouver in 1906. As one of the only people granted permission to be buried at Stanley Park in Vancouver, Pauline was a woman of national importance when she died in 1913.