Takeaway: Kateri Tekakwitha to be first Native woman saint

Tuesday, February 14, 2012  

"Kateri Tekakwitha, a Mohawk Indian who was born in upstate New York in 1656, has been approved for sainthood by the Catholic church. She embraced Catholicism after smallpox left her disfigured and partially blinded. Eventually, she left her tribe to join a mission in Canada. With her canonization, she'll become the first Native American saint. But given the Church's history of violence and oppression against Native Americans, this isn't necessarily news to celebrate.

Robert Roche, an Apache Indian and executive director of the American Indian Education Center. does not believe this is a milestone to be celebrated. But Kateri Mitchell, executive director of the Tekakwitha Conference and member of the Mohawk Nation, says the canonization will bring more healing."

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Kateri Tekakwitha To Become First Native American Saint (The Takeaway 2/14)

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