Canadian Born (1895) is a collection of poems by E. Pauline Johnson.
Revered as one the foremost indigenous Canadian poets of her time,
Johnson was a prolific writer whose works explored her Mohawk heritage
while shedding light on the racism and persecution faced by indigenous
peoples across North America. Canadian Born captures Johnson's range
as a poet in tune with the Romantic tradition without erasing her
dualistic sense of identity as a woman of Mohawk and English heritage.
Introducing her collection with a brief inscription, the poet lays out
the political purpose of her work addressed to all "Canadian born"
individuals, "whether he be [her] paleface compatriot who has given to
[her] his right hand of good fellowship," or "that dear Red brother of
whatsoever tribe or Province." No matter the identity of her reader,
Johnson hopes to show them that "White Race and Red are one if they are
but Canadian born." Whether or not she succeeds in her mission is up to
the reader to decide, and yet the beauty and power of her poetry cannot
be denied. Personal and political, patriotic and critical of colonial
misdeeds, Johnson captures as much as she can of the Canadian
experience, paying equal regard to a mariner longing to return to "the
sea, the hungry sea" and an Indian corn husker with "Age in her fingers,
hunger in her face, / Her shoulders stooped with weight of work and
years." With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset
manuscript, this edition of E. Pauline Johnson's Canadian Born is a
classic of Canadian literature reimagined for modern readers.
