In Native and Christian: Indigenous Voices on Religious Identity in the United States and Canada, 170. New York and London: Routledge, 1996.

Kateri Mitchell, SSA (Mohawk) is a Sister of St. Ann and a member of the Turtle Clan from the St. Regis Mohawk Reserve (Akwesasne) on the St. Lawrence River.  An accomplished educator, she has taught in parochial and government Indian schools in the United States and Canada and has trained native Catholic leaders for the Tekakwitha Conference and the Kisemanito Centre in Grouard, Alberta.  She currently works with native communities as a member of the mobile team for ministry formation in the Archdioceses of Keewatin-Le Pas in northern Manitoba, where she leads workshops on native spirituality, liturgy, and catechesis.  This essay grew out of Mitchell's work with the Tekakwitha Conference and was written for Faith and Culture (United States Catholic Conference, 1987), a collaborative anthology that developed out of a conference on multicultural religious education.  Mitchell suggests some basic considerations for designing a native catechesis in response to Pope John Paul II's call for indigenization.  Highlighting the importance of tradition and community among native people, she uses examples from her own people to show how cultural values are preserved in religious ceremonies and social gatherings.  Mitchell closes by describing a basic framework for native catechesis and outlining four sample courses.

Kateri Mitchell, January 15, 2006:

As I re-read "Program Development and Native American Catechesis," it became very apparent to me that a decade has definitely passed and new relevant catechetical approaches can be made more meaningful for Native American/Indigenous people entering a catechetical process.  The relationship between Native spirituality with its values and richness and Catholic traditions and teachings can be embraced with deeper understanding in the inculturation process.  I have experienced in sharing with members of many tribes throughout this country that the use of a universal traditional symbol, such as the medicine wheel, is a meaningful visual teaching tool to help people better understand a life of balance and harmony.

Over the past ten years using various approaches to facilitate meaningful faith development and catechesis for our people, I would use the format as written but I would strongly identify and suggest more cultural ways, such as the "Talking Circle and Medicine Wheel" format, for teaching and sharing relevant principles and concepts for both traditional cultural and Catholic ways that can be lived harmoniously.

My sharing now would emphasize a greater holistic learning approach for Native Catholics.  It would help to enter the abyss of healing, human growth, faith journey processes in a more expressive way to deepen a Sacramental relationship with our God.

© 2008 by James Treat