Rita Joe
Poet conquers hearts with kindness
When Rita Joe returned
to her reserve, the Eskasoni First Nation on Cape Breton Island,
she was greeted with a rose and a powwow celebration just for
her.
Sometimes called the "poet laureate" of the Mi'kmaw people, Joe started writing in her 30s to challenge the negative images of Aboriginal people being taught to her children. Her books include The Poems of Rita Joe, Songs of Eskasoni: More Poems of Rita Joe, Lnu and Indians We're Called, and Songs of Rita Joe: The Autobiography of a Mi'kmaq Poet, and have been highly acclaimed critically and generally.
She has played a powerful role in defining Aboriginal people and how they are perceived, yet she does it with beauty and kindness.
"I want to put out positive images of Aboriginal people," she said. "But everything I do is gentle persuasion. And that had more effect than a blockade or any other way - kindness, always. I teach my people to do the same."
A member of the Order of Canada, Joe is one of the few non-politicians ever called to the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, entitling her to be called Honorable for the rest of her days.
Joe believes that the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards is exactly the kind of thing that Canada needs for both its Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.
"It points out to others and makes other people aware that Natives have a lot of input too," she said. The recipients are "all from different walks of life. I was reading the [program] about these people, even that young person from the north, they're all making different contributions and they're all good people. Each story has to be read, all these people have accomplished so much with their lives."
The fact that she was recognized by an Aboriginal organization held special significance for Joe.
"I was very honored, appreciative too, because it's from my own people," she said. "I've received all sorts of awards, but this time it was a Native organization and was very happy because you feel honored that they appreciate you."
But even though she herself has been recognized by her Aboriginal peers, she doesn't consider herself the real achiever.
"When I was handed the award, I faced the people and I was thinking 'they were the achievers,'" she said. "I was not thinking of myself. I've worked all my life for Native causes and even as I was receiving the award that the [audience members] were the achievers."
Her work has inspired singers to add music to her words and even an opera to be based on her poems.
Her philosophy has been to find the beauty in whatever place or circumstance she may be in, and to keep an upbeat attitude about life.
"I told the audience that no matter from what circumstances you come from, and no matter from what culture, or how poor you are, everybody can do this," she said. "You just have to put your effort into it and be positive. Don't try to work on the negative stuff."
Even so, she's not about to just let misinformation about Aboriginal people go unchallenged. Though she wouldn't consider herself "driven to write" the great-grandmother can't help but write.
"I try to set the record straight about what we're really like. I'm still writing and still pointing out what I call mistakes and misinterpretation," she said.
Joe's career has spanned 30 years and has included articles she has written in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal publications surrounding her Nova Scotia home.
"That's the Native input - we all have different stories. You have to find out our side of the story," she said. "You'll always find beauty everywhere if you look for it."