Inspired by Indigenous People's Day by Leanne Dyck

Written in appreciation for the Indigenous people who have inspired me.

photo by ldyck

while in my birth province--Manitoba

As a junior high history student, I wrote a paper on my hero Louis Riel. After studying law in Montreal, he went home to Manitoba and courageously opposed the Canadian government's harsh treatment of his people. He envisioned a future where all people could share the land, equally. I dreamed about how different Manitoba--possibly even Canada--would have been if Riel's vision had been embraced. 

As a Katimavik volunteer, I lived and volunteered in Wendake, Quebec. The Wendat employ their ancient craft traditions to build successful businesses--such as Bastien Industries--and their community prospers.

As an Early Childhood Educator, I cared for Cree and Metis children in daycare centres--in Winnipeg's North End and Manitoba's Interlake. I watched an eighteen-month-old boy slip plastic loops around his ankles and wrists. Properly adorned, he strutted heel, toe, heel, toe--like he had seen his family do at pow-wows. He held his head high. The pride he took in his culture was clearly evident. 

As an adult university student, I took a Native Literature course and wrote a paper on the poet, author, and performer Pauline Johnson. She used her talents to build a bridge of understanding between the Indigenous people and settlers. She inspired me to dream of building a bridge between the neuronormative and neurodivergent communities. 

Strengthened by these examples of courage and pride, I, a settler, stand stronger in the truth of who I am. 

National Indigenous Peoples Day 

More...

Word Vancouver notes by Leanne Dyck

This year, Word on the Street became Word Vancouver and I was blissfully unaware until I arrived home and read the brochure. 
Um... Yeah... Is my face red? Yup.
Anyway...
Here's what I did notice...

Because I wanted to attend an early morning lecture (11 a.m.) I sailed over to the mainland on Saturday evening. There were weather warnings. So I made plans to stay an extra day, if necessary.
I arrived at the Vancouver Public Library, Main Branch early Sunday morning (10 a.m. -ish) and watched the Word Vancouver crew tearing down tents. Due to the weather forecast, the outside market was brought inside. The Vancouver Public Library was stuffed full. Already, narrow aisles were made even narrower due to display tables occupying both sides.

The first display I saw was by the Alcuin Society. I feasted my eyes. The books displayed were works of art. All had won awards for book design. 

I descended the stairs to the Alma Van Dusen room.

Pauline Johnson -- A Vancouver Legend with Shelia Johnston

Shelia Johnston spoke eloquently about Pauline Johnson -- a dynamic poet and true Canadian. Pauline was born into an ethnically diverse family -- Aboriginal father and white more 

In a time when the dominate white culture looked down on Aboriginals, Pauline used her gift for poetry to attract and inform her mainly white audience about the proud Aboriginal traditions. 

"She caused revolutionary thinking," Shelia Johnston told us.

(sorry, this is what you get when you don't hire a professional photographer)

Shelia treated us by reading from Pauline Johnson's collection of poetry. I listened, captivated as Shelia brought Pauline's lovely words to life.

Audience members informed us that Margaret Atwood and Tobin Stokes have created an Opera called Pauline. 

Buckskin and Broadcloth by Shelia Johnston

Then. I walked next door to the Peter Kaye Room.

Get Published with Janet Love Morrison
Janet Love Morrison used her personal experience to help us navigate our way through the publishing process.

First decision, self-publish or traditionally publishing?

Janet offered us a series of questions to help direct us into one camp or the other.

Questions:
-What was the purpose or intent behind writing the manuscript?
-Who is your target market?
-What are your story's unique selling points?

Before submitting our manuscripts to a publisher, Janet advised us to do our homework.

Questions to answer...
-what genre does the publisher publish?
-what are the publisher's submission guidelines?
-how many books does the publisher publish a year?
-what is the size of the publisher's print run?
-what awards has the publisher won?
-how long has the publisher been in business?
(Janet told us not to shy away from new publishers. She simply wanted us to be informed.)
-where are the publisher's books reviewed?
-does the publisher support their newly published authors?
(Janet told us that generally a publisher will help market a new book for three months)

Once we've found our publisher and are ready to make a submission...

Send...
-cover letter
(Janet told us that if we could find someone (organization) to endorse our manuscript send that along with your submission.)
-synopsis
-sample chapters or pages
-state if this is a multiply submission

When a publisher is interested in publishing our books, they will ask us to sign a contract. Janet advised us not to sign anything until you completely understand it. In fact, she suggested hiring a literary lawyer to help explain the contract.

For those in the audience who decided to self-publish, Janet walked us through that process as well.

I shuffled back over to the Alma VanDusen Room

New Directions in Creative Writing
Presented by UBC Creative Writing

UBC professors discussed the creative writing program; the developments they've seen with respect to combining literary projects with new media and the professors also talked about their own writing.

I remained in this room for...

The Scene of the Crime
Presented by the Crime Writers of Canada
Moderator:  Cathy Ace
Panel members:  Debra Purdy Kong, David Russell, Robin Spano, Kay Stewart and Chris Bullock

I am a member of the Crime Writers of Canada and it was nice to re-connect with some of the members.

At the beginning of the discussion, each writer was given seven minutes to talk generally about their writing, their book(s) and to do a brief reading.
Then the audience was invited to ask questions. These were many and varied.
Some were...
Question:  Do you use beta readers?
Answer:  All of the authors did. One as many as 12.

Question:  Do you contact the police for a research resource for your book?
Answer:  Yes, the public relations office. Sometimes, through social media, the resource person contacts the author.

Question:  How do you come to your story?
Answer:  One author picks a place (location) where she wants to spend time and then develops a story around the place.
Others are haunted by an image or inspired by news headlines and current issues.

Back into the hall...
Think I'm done?
Think again.
I ascended the stairs to the Canada Writes Tent which was brought inside, into a coffee shop.
I kicked myself because I caught the tail end of Sexy Sick Chick Lit (Kim Clark and Robyn Michele Levy). I would have loved to hear it all and speak with them later. But then I would have missed... And I couldn't have split myself in two--or even cloned myself. So... Next year, perhaps.

I enjoyed listen to...
Mark Letheren-Young read from Free Magic Secrets Revealed:  A Memoir
Carellin Brooks read from her soon-to-be released book Fresh Hell
Shaena Lambert read from her short story collection Oh, My Darling
Janie Chang read from Three Souls

Okay, I'm not sure how but I had an opportunity to visit the book market. I met so many interesting people and I invited them to visit this blog. I'm hoping they'll accept my offer. Because I know you'll enjoy meeting them as well.

Oh, yes, and in case you're wondering, Mother Nature did throw a hissy fit--and I was stuck on the mainland. Oh, poor, me. I got to go out to eat with my in-laws--a rare and savoured treat.
I arrived home a day late and just in time to attend a meeting of my writing circle.
I thought I'd be drained -- and I was, a little. But mostly I was super-charged. And now I'm dreaming of flying off to literary events in T.O., New York, London. Okay... Okay... I know, don't get carried away...

***
Literary festival... 
Some day I will attend...
Some day I will attend as a participating author...
The stuff of dreams...

Sidney Writers' Festival

Whistler Readers and Writers Festival

Learn more here

Surrey International Writers' Conference
Learn more here

Meet Pauline Johnson (3/ 3) by Leanne Dyck

I was digging through my filing cabinet hunting down something else and came across something. This something is an essay I wrote in November 1996 for a university course I was taking. Here's hoping you enjoy it. (FYI, I resisted the urge to re-write.)

First installment
http://sweatercursed.blogspot.ca/2012/03/writing-meet-pauline-johnson.html#links

Second installment
http://sweatercursed.blogspot.ca/2012/03/writing-meet-pauline-johnson_27.html#links

Third and final installment...

Through her entire career she did not stray from her goal. She firmly believed that ‘White race and Red are one if they are Canadian Born.’ (Betty Keller, p. 197) Her own performances were a fine balance between two worlds. She wore a native costume and recited her unconventional native poems during the first part of her performance. She wore a ball gown and recited traditional poetry during the second part. It always remained clear in Pauline’s heart who she was. Upon, ‘overhearing…”She’s just like a white woman.” Pauline snapped angrily, “Is that intended as a compliment.” ‘ (Grant MacEwen, p. 68) Pauline was very proud of her legal Mohawk status.

A much more appreciated compliment came from ‘a solider who had fought in the North-West Rebellion… Deeply moved by ‘A Cry from an Indian Wife’, he said, “When I heard you recite that poem, I never felt so ashamed in my life of the part I took in it!” ‘ (Betty Keller, p. 60) A quote from Pauline’s poem ‘The Cattle-Thiefs’

‘What have you left to us of land, what have you left of game

What have you brought but evil, and curses since you came?

How have you paid us for our game? How paid us for our land?

By a book, to save our souls from the sins you brought in your own hand.’

(Margaret Harry, p. 150)

Pauline did not shy away from using her poetry to express what was in her heart. ‘She could and did bring protest and unmistakable anger to verses in which she spoke for her fellow natives… She reminded those of the invading race of their aggressions.’ (Grant MacEwen, p. 72) Yet she marketed her message in a package that attracted her target white audience. This was Pauline’s true genius. It is worth noting that, ‘the resentment against imposed stereotypes and the suffering resulting from a disrupted way of life which Johnson’s work expresses remain central themes in Canadian literature today.’ (Margaret Harry, p. 152)

Until her death on March 7, 1913, Pauline educated white audiences on the wisdom of the native ways. In 1910 she began to employ techniques to conserve her energy. Eileen Maquire appeared with her since there was little hope of Pauline carrying a full program… (She read) her prose selections, especially the Capilano legends, instead of reciting poetry. On other occasions, she gave ‘informal talks’ on the legends and traditions of the Mohawk people.’ (Marcus Van Steen, p. 253)She remained committed to her goal of achieving unity among whites and Indigenous until the very end.

Bibliography

Gorham Harriet “Johnson, Emily Pauline” In The Canadian Encyclopaedia Volume 2, 1988 Hurting Publishers Ltd., Edmonton

Harry, Margaret “Literature in English by Native Canadian (Indian and Inuit)” In Studies In Canadian Literature Volume 10, Numbers 1-2 1985 University of New Brunswick, New Brunswick

Keller, Betty Pauline:  A Biography of Pauline Johnson 1981 Douglas & McIntyre, Vancouver

MacEwen, Grant “Pauline Johnson:  Princess” In ...And Mighty Women Too:  Stories of Notable Western Canadian Women 1976 Western Producer Prairie Books, Saskatoon

Van Steen, Marcus Pauline Johnson:  Her Life and Work 1973 Compton Printing Limited, London

Willoughby, Brenda Pauline Johnson Canadian Pathfinders Series Groiler Limited, Toronto

Meet Pauline Johnson (2/3) by Leanne Dyck

I was digging through my filing cabinet hunting down something else and came across something. This something is an essay I wrote in November 1996 for a university course I was taking. Here's hoping you enjoy it. (FYI, I resisted the urge to re-write.)

I offered the first part of this three-part post last Tuesday. You can find it here.

Today I'll offer the second part...

Pauline accomplished much in her career. She wrote scores of articles, poems, and prose for children and adults. She also wrote six books:  White Wampum, Canadian Born, Legends of Vancouver, Flint and Feather, The Shagganappi, and Moccasin Maker.

White Wampum was published in 1895 after her successful tour of England. "Those were the days of the drawing-room entertainment, and Pauline was in great demand throughout the season of 1894.' (Marcus Van Steen, p. 22- 23) 'London...spontaneously...accepted her as both the cultivated lady and the princess from the primeval forests." (Betty Keller, p. 106)

Canadian Born was published in 1903. 'This book contains poems that show Pauline's pride in her native land. Her eight years on the roads and railways of Canada had increased her love of her country.' (Brenda Willoughby, p. 34). She brought her unique entertainment to remote communities. She helped to build a unified Canada from a country separated by geography.

Legends of Vancouver was published in 1911. Critics proclaim it to be one of Pauline's most important works. The book was based on the legends of the Capilano nation of British Columbia. Pauline had befriended Chief Capilano in 1906. He and a small party of chiefs had travelled to England when Pauline was making her second tour. The chiefs arrived in England determined to discuss their people's plight with the King and Queen. Pauline and Chief Capilano formed a friendship that would last until he died in 1910. 'She heard from his own lips some of the ancient legends of his people, which she started writing down... This was the first attempt to record tribal mythology of the Pacific Coast Indians.' (Marcus Van Steen, p. 32)) True to native oral traditions Pauline embellished the legends.

Flint and Feather was published in 1912 shortly after its publication Pauline died of cancer. Flint and Feather was falsely labelled as 'the complete poems of E. Pauline Johnson.' Pauline had long since retired from the stage. She was tired and took up residence in Vancouver, BC. However, her fans' demand for another book was great. The task of making the selections for the book fell to the ladies of the I.O.D.E.

The Shagganappi and Moccasin Maker were published in 1913 posthumously. The books were a loving tribute. The Ladies of the Press Club compiled a series of articles. The Shagganappi 'was composed of the boy's stories that (Pauline had) submitted to The Boys' World.' (Betty Keller, p. 260) Moccasin Maker was composed of 'stories that had been submitted to Mother's Magazine and included her four-part story, 'My Mother'.' (Betty Keller, p. 260)

Meet Pauline Johnson (1/3) by Leanne Dyck

I was digging through my filing cabinet hunting down “something else” and came across “something”.  This something is a paper I wrote for university way back in November 1996. Here’s hoping you enjoy it. FYI, I resisted the urge to re-write.

            Pauline Johnson was a strong voice for the native people over her twenty-seven year career. She attempted to build understanding in the white race for the native viewpoint. Her mixed heritage gave her a unique advantage in accomplishing this goal. Her English mother taught her social graces and introduced her early to fine British poetry. Her Mohawk father taught her pride in her native heritage.

            Pauline’s career as the native poetic voice began innocently. Pauline wrote a moving poem to honour Red Jacket. The poem was used on October 9, 1884 during Red Jacket’s reburial ceremony. ‘This (was) the first poem Pauline wrote in which she boasted of her Indian lineage and expressed sympathy with her Indian forebears.’ (Marcus Van Steen, p. 15)

            Two years later Brantford honoured Joseph Brant, a great Mohawk chief, by erecting a statue in his memory. Pauline wrote a poem honouring Brant. After the success of this poem Pauline adopted her great-grandfather’s Indian name, Tekahionwake double wampum. She hoped this would call further attention to her native lineage.

            ‘By 1889 Pauline was well-enough known to have two of her poems included in Songs of the Great Dominion, a poetry anthology compiled by Montreal lawyer poet William D. Lighthall.’ (Marcus Van Steen, p. 17) This would prove to be a very important inclusion for Pauline.

            Frank Yeigh was browsing through the Songs of the Great Dominion. He wanted to compile a list of poets to perform during a literary evening. Yeigh was surprised and delighted to see Pauline’s name. Frank and Pauline were old friends. He included her name. On January 1892 Pauline gave her first professional recital. The Young Liberal Club of Toronto was receptive. Pauline’s selection, A Cry from an Indian Wife, captivated the audience. Her encore featured a legend that her grandfather had told her. The legend was of a brave warrior ‘who chose to die on a bed of live coals rather than live as a slave… The audience was entranced by this moving tale of courage.’ (Brenda Willoughby, p. 26- 27) Under Frank Yeigh’s careful management this successful evening started Pauline on her life-long career.
***
Pauline Johnson:  selected poetry and prose  introduced by Michael Gnarowski will be released in September 2012