A party simultaneously solemn, respectful, spiritual, and whimsical – with singing, chanting, dancing, poetry readings, weathergrams from well-wishers, tobacco ritual and food sharing – what more could Pauline want on her birthday!

It’s been 100 years since the death of iconic First Nations poet, Pauline Tekahionwake Johnson. Tekahionwake literally means double-life and in many ways Pauline’s life was not typical of other First Nations women of her time. Born in 1861, on the Six Nations Reserve outside Brantford, Ontario, she was of mixed ancestry with her mother being English, and her Mohawk Chief father having a mother who was part European. She enjoyed a relatively high standard of living in her youth, and was educated mainly at home reading classical English literature. At the same time she was influenced by her paternal grandfather who artfully told his grandchildren Mohawk stories. Later in life, she developed a flair for live performances of her poetry and the crowds were entranced by her ardent delivery and personal beauty. After her father’s death, she was able to support herself and her mother from these endeavours. She received wide acclaim in Canada, the U.S., and England. Many of her poetic themes celebrated First Nations life and certainly placed their plight in the spotlight. Although her popularity waned in the decades after her death, there has been a resurgence of interest in her work. She is now seen as a pioneer for championing First Nations rights, and influencing prevailing ideas about race and gender. Indeed, she has been an inspiration to other First Nations writers.

One of those writers is Victoria Poet Laureate Janet Rogers. She is also Mohawk from the Six-Nations Band in Southern Ontario and delivers her poetry in an ardent and beautiful manner. In this photo, taken on March 10, Pauline’s birthday, she‘s participating in the celebration which took place at Pauline’s memorial in Stanley Park, across from The Teahouse at Ferguson Point.

Janet read 2 poems, one by Pauline and one of her own inspired by Pauline. We see her taking part in a tobacco ritual which included the viewing public. A fistful of tobacco was taken in hand, good wishes made and then the tobacco was scattered in the area of Pauline’s memorial where her ashes are buried. To the left of Janet Rogers is Juno Award winner Murray Porter, also a Mohawk from the Six-Nations Band. Blues singer, song-writer and pianist, he sang a cappella to praise Pauline. To the right of Janet is First Nations performer Sino who provided percussion and chanting. Also participating were Jolene Cumming, a specialist in Vancouver women’s history and Stanley Park history who introduced the event along with Parks Board Commissioner, Niki Sharma.

Don Richardson