Tekakwitha was orphaned by smallpox as a child of four in New York State (and was herself visually handicapped and scarred by the disease) and raised by relatives. In 1676 she converted to Christianity (her mother had been a Christian), but violent opposition from an uncle forced her to flee to a Catholic mission in Canada.
She was famous for her austerities and penances. In 1980 she was beatified and her cause for canonization is being supported by Canadian Native Catholics.