[BCMA] E. Pauline Johnson: A Retrospective

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv]

* PRESS RELEASE*

                          *E. Pauline Johnson - Tekahionwake:*

                *Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, Ontario
1861-Vancouver, B.C. 1913*

* A Retrospective*

*By Jenna Mossop & James Gibson*



*February 1, 2024-June 1, 2024*


*The Roedde House Museum*

V*ancouver B.C.*



The Roedde House Museum is pleased to introduce* "E. Pauline
Johnson-Tekahionwake:A Retrospective".*

This four month exhibit will include: Pauline Johnson's family and career,
affiliation with *Chief Joe and Mary Agnes Capilano*, a few Indigenous
reactions to Pauline from *Six Nations of the Grand River and the
Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw* (Squamish Nation) from BC, and Pauline's legacy in
Vancouver from 1913-to the present.


Pauline defied the role of women at the time, by not marrying and having
children and sustained herself and her mother financially after the death
of her father through writing and performances. She travelled through
Canada, northeastern United States, and London, England reciting her work
on stages. Touring widely for 17 years, she started performances in her
Indigenous dress, and ended them wearing her European gown; demonstrating
the two worlds she moved between and subtly playing with the expectations
and stereotypes held by her primarily  Euro-Canadian and British audience
members.

Pauline's work continued to influence the Canadian literary field long
after her death, she was commemorated on a Canadian stamp in 1961,and has
been the subject of *66 academic studies from 1978-2018.*


In the last few display cases, this exhibit embodies an exceptional
Vancouver connection.
Her memorial stands in *Stanley Park *and a WW1 machine gun bearing
Pauline's nameplate can be found in the *Beatty Street Armoury*. *Pauline
Johnson School* in West Vancouver (now known as *Ecole Pauline Johnson*)
was built in 1922. A photographic image of a drum can be seen in the second
display case. The original drum was made at the *MOV* during a drum-making
workshop prior to Covid, and taken back to Ontario and given to *Raymond
Skye*, artist, Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. Ray rendered an
exceptional image of *Pauline Johnson *with the family home, *Chiefswood* in
the background. *Ben Lim* a recent graduate of the *Vancouver School of Art*,
was chosen to illustrate the reprinted 1961 version of Legends of Vancouver.***
*In 2014*, *the CanLit icon of Canadian literature Margaret Atwood,
co-produced the Opera, *Pauline c*ommissioned by City Opera Vancouver. And
the* Firehall Arts Centre* on east Cordova in Vancouver 2021, presented the
musical *Paddle Song *with Cheri Maracle portraying* Pauline Johnson. *This
will be repeated in late May 2024. Furthermore, the *West Vancouver
Memorial Library* as part of their programming, will introduce "Music
Talks: Indigenous Music with Brian Wright-McLeod"( February 27- April
9th).On April 2nd,is the spoken word of* E. Pauline  Johnson*, Chief Dan
George, Willy Dunn, and John Trudell...*her Vancouver legacy never ends*.

**** The content pertaining to *Legends of Vancouver* was derived from
tales of Chief Joe and Mary Agnes Capilano of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw.
*Pauline Johnson's intended title was Legends of the Capilano.*
It was not until April 2023, that the title was published with the intended
title, and edited
by Alix Shield of SFU ( University of Manitoba Press).

Thanks so much,

*James Gibson*

jim.gibson at mail.utoronto.ca

647-629-9559

*E. Pauline Johnson-Tekahionwake*

*Specialist/Collector*
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