Critical Review: Mary Johnson's Life in Stoney Creek Woman Novel

This essay provides a comprehensive review of Mary Johnson's life as depicted in the novel Stoney Creek Woman. The review details her upbringing as a member of the Carrier Indian band, her experiences in mission schools, and her marriage and family life. It explores her struggles against racism, poverty, and illness, as well as her contributions to the Vanderhoof community, including her work at the hospital and her role in the elder society. The review highlights her dedication to her family, loyalty to the Stoney Creek community, and her advocacy for their rights. It also touches upon her radical approach to change, including her decisions regarding her children's education, and the impact this had on her life. Overall, the essay analyzes Mary Johnson's life as a testament to resilience, community service, and cultural preservation.

A REVIEW OF MARY JOHNSON STORY ON THE NOVEL STONEY CREEK
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A REVIEW OF MARY JOHNSON STORY ON NOVEL STONEY CREEK WOMAN
Name of Student
Institution Affiliation

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Mary Johnson was a member of the carrier Indian band that was based on the Stoney
creek reserve that was in northern British Colombia. She was born at Six-mile lake which
was the home of her grandmother, to Anzell and Charlie Pinker who was a white Caucasian
mankind. 1920 Mary Johnson joined a mission school that was situated at St James but later
she was transferred to another school which was at Lejac in the year 1922. Her memories of
the seven years she attended school mostly focused on the hunger and also the isolation that
she experienced. Later she was married to Lazare John in the year 1929 and later they were
blessed with twelve children between the years 1929 and 1949.
Mary Johnson life is recounted in the Bridge Moran’s story Stoney Creed, which is
the book that contain biography that chronicles the hardships endured by her people because
of the Indian Act and also lack of government attention and funds as well as Mary Johnsons
personal struggles and also the victories over the racism, poverty and also illness. In the year
1957, Mary Johnson went to work in the hospital in Vander hoof, where she faced a lot of
great problems when community to the hospital as she lacked transportation. In the hospital,
she works for about thirteen years. In 1942 she was asked if she could teach the carrier
language and culture at the school called Saint Joseph.
The Stoney creek reverse began an elder society in the year 1978 and where Mary
Johnson was an active member and also a participant in this society. In the year 1979, the
Rotary society in Vander hoof acknowledged her contributions and named her as the citizen
of the community and also the entire Vander hoof community.
Mary Johnson says she had three wishes to the people and community of the Vander
hoof in large. The wishes were, she wished that people living condition in the reservations
will be improved, she wanted more education to be offered to the children in Vander hoof
and also creation of the employment to the people in the reverses so as that they can be able

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to eradicate poverty in the society. Mary Johnson was highly dedicated to her family, she was
also loyal to the Stoney Creek and also what impressed her the was giving service back to the
Vander hoof community.
What is admired most about Mary Johnson is that she was an obedient girl as evident
in the story as during her childhood she never questioned the elderly person’s decision they
made. She was also loyal and also caring to his community to the extent of hiring a lawyer
advocate for the rights and the injustices experienced by the local community and the white
community. Mary's caring traits are highly seen as she cared for the lifestyle and also the
education of the people in the community. When she became a teacher she didn’t forget his
community in the reserve but instead opted to help them in setting up a school so as to
eradicate the illiteracy amongst people. The school which was set up which was used to teach
cultural traditions in order to pass on skills, beliefs, and a sense of pride in their heritage.
Despite Mary Johnson's good traits, she was a radical person who concerned more
about change disregarding others. It is evident that she decided to forcibly force her children
to go to school and this resulted in the demise of two of her children as a result. Though she
was an activist and influential person she, not a talker might have affected some of the
decisions she was willing to make.