Pauline Johnson

Pauline Johnson, an astonishing writer and poet who expresses her pride for her Native European heritage through writing, is one of Vancouver’s most acknowledged authors. She was born on the Six Nation Indian Reserve in Ontario, and was the youngest daughter of four to G.H. Johnson, a Chief Mohawk and Emily Susanna Howells, an English woman.

Johnson first began writing poetry on Native themes after the death of her father. After settling in Vancouver, a Squamish Chief by the name of Joe Capilano inspired her to write stories in which she incorporates his legends in “The Two Sisters” and “The Siwash Rock.” In “The Two Sisters,” the tall twin peaks which are referred to as “The Lions” to many Canadian’s living in Vancouver, is not the name recognized to many Indian tribes. Instead, the Indian tribes refer to the tall twin peaks as “The Two Sisters,” because of an ancient tale about cultural traditions. A similar idea is approached in “The Siwash Rock,” where the central idea is about the principles and standards of having an unsoiled fatherhood to enter an infant into the world. Johnson includes the legends and myths she learned in the past from family members and acquaintances into her poems and short stories she wrote as an adult.

Johnson’s passion for her Native and European background is written for a non-Native audience, which is expressed in English based on Native themes about First Nations legends and cultural values. She died in Vancouver in 1913, and is remembered for her writing that illustrates her aboriginal heritage.

Vancouver: Through Diverse Eyes

It stands to argue that, generally, the authors of the short stories have portrayed Vancouver in a positive light. What is more interesting to note, is the cultural diversity from which these portrayals originate. Some are First Nations, others were born in England and China, while some were born around here in both Victoria and Vancouver. As one reads through these unique perspectives, an image of Vancouver is easily developed. If it happens to be that this reader is unfamiliar with the landscape and culture of Vancouver, it is safe to say that these outlooks are accurate for the time period from which they are referring to. "In Vancouver" depicts Vancouver as a place where loggers come to rest, re-fuel and restock their supplies in the early 20th Century. "The Two Sisters" and "The Siwash Rock" both show a Vancouver that is rich with Aboriginal culture and full of beautiful landscapes. "Forgiveness in Families", "A cup of Coffee"and "The Jade Peony" were written a little later on in the 20th century and show the growth of Vancouver with references to hospitals, mills, and various shops and convenience stores. This graduation to modernity shows that the representations of Vancouver are not static and are changing and growing with the city. If one were to step back and look at all the viewpoints as a whole, the impression would be that of a city which was once a logging community with a beautiful landscape that has now grown into that of a more modern city with a diverse culture