When a young man Thayendanegea or Joseph Brant, a Mohawk Pine Tree Chief, perceived the importance of education and religion as aids in carrying forward the moral and social improvement of his nation. One of his first stipulations, on securing Grand River Territory for his people, was the building of a church, a school house and flour mill. The Mohawk Church still stands. On five different occasions different members of the Akwesasne Mohawk Counselor Organization have visited the grave of Joseph Brant and the church which he built for his Mohawks from funds collected in England by himself in 1786 Thayendanegea lies buried near this little church, the first Episcopal Church erected in Upper Canada.
Near the tomb of Joseph Brant the warriors saw a unique stone marker, in the shape of a huge arrowhead fastened to a large boulder, erected in memory of Pauline Johnson, a great Mohawk Indian poetess of the Six Nations. They knew that there was another impressive monument erected in the City of Vancouver in honour of this remarkable and talented Iroquois.