Who was St. Kateri Tekakwitha?

Early Life of Tekakwitha

Tekakwitha, known among her Mohawk people as "She who bumps into things," was born around 1656 in Ossernenon, a Mohawk village in what is now Northeastern New York state. Her father, Kenneronkwa, was a respected Mohawk chief, and her mother, Kahenta, was an Algonquin woman. Kahenta was captured in a raid and brought into the Mohawk tribe, where she was adopted and became part of the community. She had been baptized as a Catholic and taught by French missionaries in Trois-Rivières, a city east of Montreal, before being captured by Mohawk warriors and taken to their homeland. Eventually, she married Kenneronkwa, and they had Tekakwitha, their first child, followed by a brother.

Tekakwitha grew up in a village rich in cultural diversity. The Mohawk frequently absorbed captives from other tribes, especially the Huron, their rivals. This practice helped replace those lost to warfare or diseases.

Triumph Over Tragedy

Tragedy struck Tekakwitha's life when she was about four years old. A smallpox epidemic claimed the lives of her younger brother and both her parents. Although Tekakwitha survived, she was left with permanent facial scars and impaired eyesight. After the death of her parents, she was adopted by her paternal aunt and her husband, who was a chief of the Turtle Clan.