It is impossible to fully understand what it means to be a Catholic in North America without a sincere appreciation for the Catholic tradition among so many native tribes. Few people realize that Indigenous communities throughout the continent were practicing their faith centuries before the founding of the United States.
Enduring Faith: The Story of Native American Catholics, a Knights of Columbus documentary, explores the rich legacy of faith among Native Americans. Discover how in the 16th century, Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to an Indigenous elder as a mestiza woman and generated the largest conversion in world history. Hear the inspiring story of the first canonized Native American saint, St. Kateri Tekakwitha. Learn about a 20th century Lakota healer, Nicholas Black Elk, whose cause for canonization is currently open in Rome.
This film will inspire in viewers a deeper appreciation for the spiritual and cultural gifts of Native American Catholics, a greater awareness of the wrongs inflicted upon them by the unjust policies of the British and American governments, and a sense of hope at how Native American Catholics continue to live out their faith in fully enculturated ways today. Above all, it offers a missing piece to the greater story of Catholicism in America and a beautiful example of how Christ reveals himself through the uniqueness of every culture.