the Saint's death, both Sr. Kateri Mitchell and the subject of the key second first class miracle attributed to Tekawitha in the 2006 healing of Lummi tribal member, Jake Finkbonner, were participants in Rome on October 21, 2012 in the actual canonization ceremony, and since then the impact, scope, and cultural reach of the conference has begun to grow as might be expected through the recognition of the Roman Catholic Church's, and North America's, first Native American saint. (St. Juan Diego preceded her in 2002 as the first indigenous Roman Catholic Saint from the Americas, but it is also worth noting, historically, that his birth had predated hers by almost two centuries.) Since these recent events, Saint Kateri Tekawitha now lends her name and venerable history to the Conference through her newly found stature as one and only among officially recognized and authenticated North American indigenous saints. See also Marquette University Special Collections and University Archives References Tekakwitha Conference Records at Marquette University. Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Digital Collection; ID number 10171 (participants of 1964 Tekakwitha Conference) Tekakwitha Conference History External links Tekakwitha Conference Home Page History of Catholicism in the United States Christian organizations established in 1939 Catholic organizations established in the 20th century 1939 establishments in North Dakota Native American organizations