Mohawk Princess

ForterieNov3.06 Earl Plato
Norma called out, “There it is!” We were in Stanley Park, the renowned Vancouver city park this late October day , 2006. We had just passed the burial site of famed Ontario poetess, Pauline Johnson (1861-1913). We emerged from our little tour bus and walked back to the burial monument. Both Bud and I had looked forward to seeing her memorial here in British Columbia. Nestled in a grove of evergreens the tall stone monument overlooked the beautiful Vancouver harbour. We both posed beside the stone carving of her face and upper torso etched on the surface..
You may ask who was Pauline Johnson? Old timers of the Town upon graduation from public and separate school were often recipients of the book, “Flint and Feather” a collection of poems by Pauline, the Mohawk princess. The late Mrs. O.C. Teal of Fort Erie graciously gave many copies of this book to Grade Eight graduates over the years. Both Bud and I have one. We still can recite verses such as some from, “The Song My Paddle Sings.” and others. Bertie Township Hall now our Fort Erie Museum in the late 1800’s saw locals hear Pauline, the Mohawk princess, recite dressed in her attractive deerskin native dress and bare feet. Her aim was, “My pride is to sing ( and recite) the glories of my own people.“ We eight Fort Erie seniors earlier in the year had an excellent look at her ancestral home, Chiefswood, a national heritage site, on the banks of the Grand River. Take the picturesque Highway 54 east of the City of Brantford. The two storey white frame mansion overlooks the river. It was here that Pauline was born. Her Mohawk name was Tekahionwake. She wrote here some of her most famous poems including “The Song My Paddle Sings.”
“Be strong, O paddle! Be brave, canoe!
The reckless waves you must plunge into.
Reel, reel.
On your trembling keel,
But never a fear my craft will feel.”
Old timers remember when you had to recite memory lines in grade school? That was 0ne of the poems I chose. We watched the Grand River roll by from her second storey bedroom window. It was one of the places where she created her poetry. The lady curator gave us an excellent tour. Worth a visit. Seniors were free.