In line with Native American Heritage month I have offered modern perspectives, a 200+ year old prophetic vision for our people and the people of the world, and today I offer the history of a Native woman who would be revered by the Christian community but ostracized by her own people; Kateri Tekakwitha.

Kateri was born in 1656 of a Christianized Algonquin woman who had been captured by warring Iroquois and who married a pagan Mohawk Chieftain. She was born in the village of Osserneon (Auriesville), New York where 2 Jesuit priests, St. Isaac Jogues and St. Jean de Lelande, had suffered martyrdom in 1646. When she was a small child she became an orphan when her parents and brother died of the smallpox epidemic which left her disfigured and nearly blind. In 1676 she converted to Catholicism with the aid of Jesuit priest Fr. Jacques de Lamberville. After her conversion she was subjected to extreme abuse by her family members and ostracized as traitorous for her new religion. Fearing for her life she left her village in 1677 and trekked over 200 miles through the wilderness to the Christian Indian village of Sault St. Marie, near Montreal , Canada. She made her first communion on Christmas of that same year and continued to live a life of great holiness and austerity. In 1679 she took an oath of chastity and dedicated the rest of her life to Christ. She died on april 17, 1680 and was venerated for her holiness and concern for others. She became known as the Lily of the Mohawks and many miracles were attributed to her. In 1943 she was declared venerable by Pope Pius XXI, beatified in 1980 by Pope John Paul II, and was canonized in 1991.

While Kateri was vilified by her own people, she was one of very few Indians who would be widely accepted by the white Christian community as saintly. Her short life of 34 years, fraught with hardships, sickness, and rejection, was not in vain as she showed her gentle spirit and love for all, even those who hated her. And while she may be accused of leaving her traditions and religion, marked as a traitor by her own, she followed the convictions of her heart. As a part of the Iroquois people, I will not condemn her but laud praises upon her for her courage and strength of spirit in the face of adversity. Our world is a little better place as a result of her contributions to our species and by the gift of her presence. May we all find this same courage and strength to stand in the face of adversity whenever our convictions and principles of God are challenged. And may we not judge those who choose to travel a different path than our own......God's Love and Peace....To`na Wanagi