Cultural Preservation
American Indian vs Native American: Which term is right and when?
A concise guide to when, why and how to use Native American, American Indian or a tribal name—so you don’t trip over history, law or respectful language
Religion
Vatican readying for Mohawk Saint Kateri Tekakwitha
The first Native saint from North America, Kateri Tekakwitha’s journey of faith and resilience
Kateri Tekakwitha (1656–1680) is the first North American Indian to be beatified, and was canonized in October 2012. She was an Algonquian-Mohawk woman of New York State who converted to Christianity at an early age. The statue was created by Estella Loretto, a sculptor from the nearby Jemez Pueblo, and installed in August 2003
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Kateri Tekakwitha, often called the “Lily of the Mohawks,” was born in 1656 in Ossernenon (present-day Auriesville, New York). She survived a smallpox epidemic that claimed the lives of her parents and brother, leaving her with facial scarring and impaired vision. Around age 19 (baptized April 18, 1676), she converted to Catholicism, taking the name Catherine. After facing opposition in her community, she moved to the Jesuit mission village of Kahnawake (near Montreal, Quebec), where she lived a life of devotion until her death on April 17, 1680 .
On October 21, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI canonized her, making her the first Indigenous person from North America—encompassing both current-day U.S. and Canada—to be officially declared a saint in the Roman Catholic Church.
That status is unique: as of now, she remains the only Native individual from North America to have been canonized.
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This article was updated on July 11, 2025.
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Arts & Culture
The journey of dentalium: Tracing ancient trade routes along the Upper Missouri
The coveted seashell played a central role in ancient trade and cultural exchange
Cultural Preservation
Dentalium: History and significance in Native American culture
For generations, Native Americans prized dentalium or tusk shells as currency, status symbols and sacred objects. Harvested in the Pacific, they were traded thousands of miles inland, held real value and have been used for over 6,600 years, continuing today
Arts & Culture
Associated Press
Arts & Culture
Lily Gladstone’s historic Oscar gowns, celebrating Native heritage, go on display in D.C.
The National Museum of the American Indian will exhibit the dresses, a collaboration with Mohawk/Cree/Comanche artist Joe Big Mountain, starting February 28
Arts & Culture
‘Endless Cookie’ animated documentary satisfies the appetite for the unseen, unknown
Through storytelling and animation, the film explores the lives of two half-brothers, from the remote Shamattawa First Nation to urban Toronto, offering a unique glimpse into Indigenous culture and experiences, from the mundane to the deeply political
