A Lily Among Thorns: The Mohawk Repatriation of Káteri Tekahkwí:tha

by Darren Bonaparte

Saint Kateri (Kateri Tekakwitha) was a Mohawk woman born in the 17th century, at the height of major colonial conflicts in North America. Baptized by Jesuit missionaries, her life became such an example of religious piety that she was beatified by Pope John Paul II three centuries after her death. She was canonized in 2012. Mohawk author Darren Bonaparte has written a biography of the "Lily of the Mohawks" that places it in the context of her people's history. It is a study of the historical documents written by the priests who knew her personally. The book features original illustrations by Mohawk artist Ross Kakwirakeron Montour.

296 pages, Paperback

First published January 9, 2009

Reviews

[Kiki Hayden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bonaparte’s research is thorough and his perspective is affirming of both Káteri Tekahkwí:tha’s Mohawk and Christian identities. He is appropriately skeptical of the narratives that have been projected onto Tekahkwí:tha’s life and also the narratives that have been projected onto the history of the Mohawks of the St. Lawrence river. With clarity and eloquence, Bonaparte presents a new perspective on the life of Tekahkwí:tha and her many families: biological, adoptive, and spiritual. Bonaparte does not glorify the actions of the French colonists, not even the ones who were involved in Tekahkwí:tha’s spiritual journey. He also refuses to vilify Tekahkwí:tha’s family of origin, but rather provides a compassionate and equitable representation of members of the Mohawk nation—those who continued to practice traditional Mohawk religion and those who converted to Christianity while maintaining their Mohawk identity. Instead of painting the picture in black and white, with good guys and bad guys, he presents a complex picture of the political, spiritual, and cultural context for Tekahkwí:tha’s biography. As a member of the St. Regis Mohawk nation, Bonaparte’s perspective is so important. I strongly recommend this book, as well as Bonaparte’s website www.wampumchronicles.com, to anyone interested in Mohawk and Iroquois history and also the life of Saint Káteri Tekahkwí:tha.

[Margaret Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly researched history of the Mohawk Iroquois people in the Mohawk River area of upper New York state, and in the Saint-Lawrence valley, Quebec, dating back 300 + years. Passing reference is also made of the First Nations settlement in Hochelaga. Bonaparte creates compelling details of the context giving rise to the life of Saint Kateri Tekatwitha, recently canonized by the Roman Catholic church. His argument is that the Christian virtues for which Kateri was in her lifetime noted, were in no way alien to Mohawk Iroquois cosmology. He challenges the appropriation by the Jesuits of 'credit' for Kateri's saintliness, stating it is time for repatriation of Kateri's name and reputation by First Nations people, in the context of whose syncretic cosmology he places her. He makes a significant contribution to the history of First Nations people in North America. Kudos to Darren Bonaparte!

[Sean Zimprich · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say, I really enjoyed this book and what Darren was trying to accomplish with it. Too many times I have witnessed what he speaks of regarding ulterior motives or propaganda to push an agenda - his attempt to try to “repatriate” Kateri in her Mohawk heritage to me is a noble feat, as without the proper context of her life, who does she become other than an unreal plastic figure unrelatable to anyone genuinely trying to make sense of themselves in an incredibly complex world. I don’t want to trash anyone’s accounts regarding Kateri when it comes to her biographers, or her contemporary Jesuit fathers who cared for her as we gather most of the information we know from their accounts but I think to greater understand Kateri’s heritage and culture and to place her within that context can only greater illuminate the tremendous gift she was to her people and the world.

[W M · Rating 5 out of 5]

One cannot understand the transition of power and agency amongst the northern woodlands tribes, without in-depth knowledge of the impact that Catholicism had upon the dynamics of the region. Saint Kateri’s life story encapsulated this major turning point and provides us with an accurately documented snapshot of life on the frontiers of New York and Quebec, during the mid-17th century. You will find the topics of wartime captive assimilation, geopolitical spatial movements, and real-time cultural reorientations to be throughly covered, along with the delicate balancing act of what it means to be truly be Haudenosaunee.

[Emily McFarlan Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to learn more about North America's first Native American saint, but I didn't want to hear her story filtered through the lens of the miraculous or from the white missionaries who viewed her as "a saint among savages." Darren Bonaparte's book puts these narratives within the context of history, archaeology and Mohawk culture to tell a fuller story about St. Kateri Tekahkwitha.

[Mariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cateri Tekahwi:ta is the patron saint of ecology and the environment. This tells of her life and times from the point of view of another Mohawk Indian. The author raises some good questions about colonialism and catholic penance. I wish he had asked more questions.

[Elisha]

Historical look at Kateri Tekahkwitha - a good interruption to the hagiographic settler narrative of most church stories/books on her.