Legends of the Capilano

E. Pauline Johnson (1861-1913), known also by her Kanienʼkehá꞉ka name Tekahionwake, was a widely-known poet, performer, and writer born on Six Nations of the Grand River territory (near Brantford, Ontario). 

Joe Capilano (c.1854-1910), known also by his Sḵwx̱wú7mesh name Sahp-luk, was a Sḵwx̱wú7mesh leader, activist, and orator from Xwmelch’sten (Capilano Reserve no. 5 in North Vancouver, BC). He is known for making the journey from Vancouver to London, England in 1906 to visit King Edward VII in protest of changes to seasonal Indigenous fishing and hunting rights.  

Mary Agnes Capilano (c.1840-1940), known also by her Sḵwx̱wú7mesh name Lixwelut, was a Sḵwx̱wú7mesh matriarch (and wife to Joe Capilano) known for her activism and leadership in the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh community. She was a respected basket-weaver, and was often seen paddling her dugout canoe between Xwmelch’sten and Downtown Vancouver to sell fresh seafood and baskets in the city. 

Alix Shield teaches in the Department of Indigenous Studies at Simon Fraser University. Her current research analyzes collaboratively-authored twentieth and twenty-first century Indigenous women’s literatures in Canada.