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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A crowd of more than 250 people gathered in Dettah last Sunday to celebrate the canonization - or elevation to sainthood - of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha.

The formerly named Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Church in Dettah was renamed the Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Church after its namesake was canonized by the Pope. - NNSL file photo

Tekakwitha is now North America's first aboriginal saint in the Catholic church.

"Becoming a saint is the highest thing for (Catholics)," said Bishop Murray Chatlain. "Being Pope, it doesn't touch it. Being a saint is the highest thing, and so (the fact) that an aboriginal woman became an official saint for the whole Catholic church, the highest place in all we can find, it is an honour for the church and for all aboriginal people."

Tekakwita is namesake to the Catholic church in Dettah and Sunday's celebrations included a blessing which changed the parish's name from Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha to Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, as well as mass, a feast, and drum dancing.

"Who is going to remember you 350, 400 years from now?" said Jim Lynn, pastoral leader for the church. "The fact that this girl lived only until the age of 24, and yet she is still remembered today, there had to be something spectacular, something special about this young woman."

Tekakwitha was born in 1656 in modern day New York state to a Mohawk chieftain and a Christian Algonquin woman.

Tekakwitha endured the death of her family, a brush with smallpox that left her scarred and vision impaired, and was ultimately ostracized from her community due to her Catholic faith, all before the age of 20. She eventually relocated to a Christian Iroquois village called Kahnawake, in what is now Quebec, and quickly earned a reputation for her piety.

She died from tuberculosis at age 24 and many believe she has been a source of healing for sick people since her death.

The final miracle that confirmed her sainthood, the Catholic church requires two, took place in 2006 in Ferndale, Washington when a five-year-old boy miraculously recovered from flesh-eating disease that almost killed him.

The boy, now 12, was present at the Mass of Canonization given by Pope Benedict XVI in Rome.

Six other saints were canonized on Oct 21, including Filipino missionary Pedro Calungsod, who was also recognized at the mass in Dettah.

Gloria Reyes, a Yellowknife resident originally from the Philippines, said 40 people rented a bus to get to Dettah for the celebrations. She said the atmosphere was very energetic and everyone was singing church hymns on the way. She said the diverse collection of Catholics from all over the territory who gathered for the celebrations was very impressive.

Lynn said he was also impressed with the audience that came out for the event.

"There was an excellent turnout; people of all ages and all ethnic groups and everything else," Lynn said. "It was a beautiful celebration.

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