Kateri Tekakwitha Analysis

The bronze statue of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha is located in Pawhuska, Oklahoma on the property of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Saint Kateri Tekakwitha was the first Native American woman to be officially canonized by the Catholic Church, an event that occurred as recently as 2012. This life-size work of art can be found standing proudly in the center of a large outdoor shrine dedicated to her name. The shrine is situated within a large, moderately deep hole inside the earth. The bronze sculpture of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha was created by John Free in 2008. It stands approximately six feet in height and is about two feet in width. Saint Kateri’s face is imagined with a wide and strong jaw, a long nose, full lips and soft eyes.

I claim the meaning and purpose of this sculpture and its setting is to exist as a place for all people to gather, reflect, pray and meditate but more importantly, to feel protected. This shrine for Saint Kateri Tekakwitha inspires these actions and feelings in a number of different ways. One way the sculpture conjures feelings of protection and safety is because of the mere fact that Saint Kateri is a woman. The individuals that look upon the sculpture are immediately met with a loving gaze, a gaze that looks similar to the look a cherishing and nurturing mother would give to her child. The Native Americans of this community can directly relate to this work of art due to the fact that the person being represented shares their ethnicity. As a result of the fairly recent canonization of the first Native American saint, historically, Native Americans have not necessarily had someone to which they could closely relate. This shrine gives them that opportunity and