Born in 1856 to a Mohawk chief and an English mother, Emily Pauline Johnson navigated dual cultures and became a prominent poet and performer. Educated at home and in local schools, she began her literary career in the 1880s with notable publications, including her first poem at age 14. Johnson gained acclaim for her works celebrating Native heritage, culminating in her poetry collections, The White Wampum and Canadian Born. After retiring from theater, she continued to write until her death in 1913, leaving a lasting legacy celebrated at her funeral in Vancouver.
