It seems that Junípero Serra will finally be having his day in court. Felony charges were filed in Marin County on November 12, 2020 against the #IndigenousPeoples5, accused of the destruction of a statue of Saint Junípero Serra at Mission San Rafael Arcángel on October 12, 2020.
A preliminary hearing was held in Marin County on August 17, 2022 (People v. Aguilar, SC214700A). The next scheduled date is today, February 22, 2023, Ash Wednesday, at 9am.
Defendants include Ines Shiam Gardilcic, Victoria Eva Montanopena, Melissa Aguilar, Marjorie Nadeska Delgadillo, Moira Cribben Van de Walker.
Sacheen Littlefeather, Apache, who declined Marlon Brando’s 1973 Oscar on his behalf, said of the five arrested for destruction of a statue of Saint Junípero Serra at Mission San Rafael Arcángel, “The legitimate federally recognized Native American Indian people of Marin County did not participate in, and knew nothing of the actions, nor did we sanction the destruction of the statue of Junipero Serra…. As a member of the Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Circle, I would like to make it clear that we do not condone such behavior and we pray for all of those involved.” Littlefeather died at her Marin County home on October 2, 2022 at age 75.
According to Richard Rodriguez, author of Hunger of Memory, Saint Junípero Serra is worth defending. He sees himself as “. . . made by the missions” and goes on to write in his January 2018 First Things article “Padre Mestizo”, “We are called to his [Saint Junípero Serra’s] grave because of the strength of his resolve — a resolve he shared with thousands of missionaries. His great ambition, his deep desire, was to join his soul to the souls of Indians, many of whom fled his presence.”
– The above was submitted by Christian Clifford. Clifford writes on the subject of Catholic Church history in Spanish and Mexican California. His latest book is the Catholic Media Association Book Award recipient Pilgrimage: In Search of the REAL California Missions, the story of his 800-mile walk of the California Missions Trail. He can be reached at www.Missions1769.com.
Littlefeather said her father was of Apache and Yaqui ancestry[1] and her mother was of European descent. Shortly after Littlefeather’s death, Navajo writer and activist Jacqueline Keeler interviewed Littlefeather’s two sisters, who say that their family is not Native American and that Littlefeather fabricated her Native American ancestry. They also said that their father, who was born in Oxnard, California, was of Spanish-Mexican descent and had no tribal ties.[
Sacheen Little Fibber was a detectable fraud long before her sisters spilled the beans.
Also, it’s “Catherine” Tekakwitha (“Kateri” is a 19th century contrivance — to sell a book).
She was beatified as Catherine Tekakwitha on June 22, 1980, by Pope John Paul II.[41]
On December 19, 2011, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints certified a second miracle through her intercession, signed by Pope Benedict XVI, which paved the way for pending canonization. On February 18, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI decreed that Tekakwitha be canonized. Speaking in Latin, he used the form “Catharina Tekakwitha”; the official booklet of the ceremony referred to her in English and Italian as “Kateri Tekakwitha.” She was canonized on October 21, 2012, by Pope Benedict XVI In the official canonization rite booklet, “Catherine” is used in the English and French biographies and “Kateri” in the translation of the rite itself
Sources are in footnotes of wiki page
Best go with the name that Tekakwitha took at baptism, i.e., Catherine, in honor of St Catherine of Siena, rather than the concoction of a wifty white 19th century feminist or the fancy of 21st century restless natives.
As for Wiki, I’d advise to tekakwitha grain of salt.
So Hymie, along those lines of thinking, do you think St. Padre Pio should be referred to as St. Pius of Pietrelcina?
Again, “Kateri” is a 19th century contrivance to exoticize her. The fun is watching Indians, Pretendians, and Wannabees fall hook, line, and wampum for a white feminist’s book-selling ploy.
For more accurate information about Sacheen Littlefeather, see two letters written to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences by Helene Hagan (Dec 2022) and Sacheen’s sisters Trudy and Rosalind (Feb 2023) at https://www.helenehagan.com/academy-museum-letter
The sisters do not seem to have Native American Indian features but Sacheen seems to have them. They could be from a tribe from Mexico, though. Are they all from the same mother and father? If they have not all taken DNA tests there might be something they do not know. It happens all the time. the various Native Indian tribes are mixed so much with Europeans it is almost impossible to tell. I don’t believe the defendents are pure anything either — look at their last names.
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]As I have said before, “Be careful whom you hate, you might find you are one of them.”
A correction: Sacheen has “some” Native American Indian features. She has “some” Caucasian features also. How do I judge this? I have and have had friends and close relatives mixed with various tribes from different states.
You don’t need to judge. Just pray for the poor lady’s soul.
I am not judging her. I am just stating that she might not be lying as others are implying.
Sorry, I did not see the sentence under her picture above. I did not realize she had passed away. Yes, we all need prayers after our deaths. May she and the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
UPDATE (2/27): The case has been granted a continuance until April 26 when the defendants are scheduled to appear at 9 a.m. in courtroom D.