Director's Welcome

Welcome to the Tekakwitha Conference the only Catholic Native American/Aboriginal Religious Organization in North America.

The Tekakwitha Conference was founded in 1939 and was incorporated in 1979 as a National Non-profit Organization. This National Office is located in Great Falls, MT in the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings.

This national office promotes evangelization among one-half million Indigenous Catholics who are members of over 300 tribes and nations in the United States and Canada.

Catholic Church clergy, women and men religious and laity of many cultural backgrounds serve the Indigenous population on this continent. We are very proud to walk with the Indigenous population on this land as they continue to grow in self-identity, dignity and self-assurance. Voices are becoming stronger with a desire for greater visibility in a culturally diverse Universal Church.

As Executive Director, I thank you for visiting us. I hope you will learn about our patroness, a young Indigenous woman of the mid 17th century, Kateri Tekakwitha. I encourage you, your friends and colleagues to become a supporter through membership either individually and/or your Arch/diocese, Parish/Mission , Kateri Circle or your organization. Please go to our membership page for more information.

You are encouraged to join or form a Kateri Circle in your area. We invite you to visit our gift shop. We specialize in Kateri Tekakwitha religious items, faith formation and enrichment materials.

Please take the time to view our May/June 2011 Newsletter. You are welcome to join us for the 73rd Annual Tekakwitha Conference in Albany, New York, July 18-22, 2012 with a one day pilgrimage to Blessed Kateri's birthplace (Auriesville) and baptismal place (Fonda).

Sister Kateri Mitchell
Mohawk Nation
September, 2011