Sister Kateri Mitchell receives Katherine Drexel Justice Award

Sister Kateri Delia Mitchell was a “surprised “ guest of honor at the Kateri Hall on March 27, 2010.  Many of her friends and relatives gathered to witness and to hear her story about the award she received in Pennsylvania. The people of Ahkwesahsne are very familiar with Sister Kateri as she grew up here , a daughter of Lena and Alex Mitchell. She is a sister to AnnMarie Mitchell McDonald and the late William Buster Mitchell and an aunt to Alexandra, Alyson and Charlotte.

Her combination of work and travel, has helped her find so much satisfaction and value in her work.  It was so evident that she showed respect, care and compassion for all the people she crossed paths with for so many years.

Sister Kateri obtained her education beginning as a graduate from Massena Central School in 1958. Next, she continued to join the Sisters of St. Anne in Massachusetts in 1959.  When she became a nun, Delia took the name of Kateri after Kateri Tekakwitha. She also went to Ann Maria College and University of Rhode Island. Delia received her Masters in Educational Administration at St. Lawrence University in Canton.  Back in Ahkwesahsne, she taught for a while in Tsisnaihne, Kanatakon, and became principal at Kawennoke. Delia has since traveled all over the world and is presently in Manitoba.  She is usually in attendance at the annual Kateri Tekakwitha National Conference where she meets her friends and family from Ahkwesahsne.

The prestigious awards given to Sister Kateri took place in Pa. and is called the Saint

Katherine Drexel National Justice Award.

To receive this award, a person must be:

a)  living in a life infused with deep religious and moral values.

b)  supportive of social and cultural equality among all people.

c)  concerned for the poor, unchurched and the alienated.

d)  appreciative of the variety and value in racial and cultural values

e)  willing to do whatever is possible to bring about a better world of peace and justice for all.

The Katherine Drexel Justice Award has been presented annually since 1996.  It is such an honor to our people to have one of our own to receive this award.

In the mid 1800’s, a girl was born to a family of wealth in Pennsylvania.  On her path growing up, she and her family had many concerns about Native American and Africans especially with education issues.  Katherine began schools all over the country, after building and providing teachers for the Native and African American children.  Her involvement with establishing schools became apparent when she came to St. Regis.

Katherine became the first Sister of the Blessed Sacrament. At first, she took some children to Philadelphia to have them educated.  Later, she came back to Hogansburg and established the Convent of Sisters of Mercy.  The convent closed in 1935 due to the stoppage of the endowment that sustained it.  The chiefs of St. Regis protested the closure but also because it was sold to the state.  That’s when the St. Regis Mohawk School was constructed and the education of the Native Americans would continue.

These were some facts about Katherine Drexel and how the Award was in her honor.  Her dedication and work carried her throughout life until her death.  In 2000, she was canonized by Pope John Paul.   So, since you have learned some information about Katherine Drexel and her life as well as the continuance of service by Sister Kateri, you can see how their lives are similar.

The day Sister Kateri’s dinner arrived, she was so surprised, She commented on how life is so full of surprises, as such was the day she received this award.  As she spoke to her friends and family at Kateri Hall, she shared what the plaque was inscribed with:

“The will of God will never take you where the grace of God cannot protect you.  Happy moments praise you, difficult moments seek you, quiet moments worship God, painful moments trust God and every moment thank God.”

On the plaque is a picture of Kateri Tekakwitha along with an emblem of Pennsylvania included with a picture of the Mayor.

Thank you so much for allowing Ahkwesahsne to share your happiness.  It allowed us to feel and to get a glimpse of your other family in Manitoba and your life with God.  You are definitely a true treasure of immeasurable value to all people.  Sister Kateri, you have touched the hearts of so many of us in Ahkwesahsne including the people in the countries you have visited. Take Care of yourself for us and until we meet again, onen kiwahe!