'TRANQUIL WATERS"- A HOLY NATIVE WOMAN

 

Why saints?  Venerable Thomas A Kempis (15th C. monk & mystic) wrote: saints of God are friends in this life, guides along the way, advisers in doubt.. guardians in dangers, attendants in battle, defenders against the enemy, intercessors for sin, assistants at the last hour, consolers during agony, advocates at judgment, patrons before God, and welcoming friends in heaven…

In August, we presented some mystics and in September martyrs. The next two months, before Advent, we will cosider a miscellaneous group of holy people. The first two to be to be presented I am not sure will be canonized, but they have roots in our Pacific Northwest and their contribution to the early Church here is fascinating and lasting.

The people who called themselves, now commonly known as the The Coeur d’Alene Tribe (known as Schitsu'Umsh by the natives), have a legend about the coming of white men. Tradition says that Chief Circling Raven climbed a mountain on a vision quest and came back with a prophecy that two black-robed angels with white skin would come to teach his people of the great spirit.

Chief Circling Raven’s granddaughter, SIUWHEEM, meaning “tranquil waters,” was among the first to be baptized by Father Pierre-Jean De Smet in 1842. The black-robed priest was setting up missions in the West, and he was then starting one near present-day St. Maries in northern Idaho. Yet, even before the Black Robes arrival she was living a virtuous life, practicing great charity among her people. Her father was Chief "Twisted Earth".  We know of her life because Father De Smet wrote of "the remarkable  young woman" in 1865.
 
The St. Joseph’s Mission was constructed on the banks of the St. Joe River. Frequent flooding at that site caused the missionaries to soon abandon it. They moved to a hill overlooking the Coeur d’Alene River near present day Cataldo in 1846. They built what would become the Mission of the Sacred Heart there between 1850 and 1853. It stands today as Idaho’s oldest building. On the way to visit family in Couer d’Alene I would pass this very Hispanic looking church, yet never stopped.

 As a teenager Siuwheem married a member of the Spokane Tribe called Polotkin. Upon their baptism Father De Smet gave her the name Louise, and her husband the name Adolph, not only baptizing both but uniting them in marriage. From that point on Siuwheem was known as Louise Siuwheem Polotkin.

Louise became a talented translator and a fervent believer in the new religion the missionaries brought with them. She had a special love for children, especially girls, and took in several when their parents couldn’t care for them.

Louise Siuwheem has her own tribal legends. Two stories praise her for stopping battles, first with Spokane Indians, and then with the Nez Perce. 

She died in 1853 and is buried in the small cemetery on the grounds of the Mission of the Sacred Heart, which was later renamed in honor of another priest. It became the Cataldo Mission of the Sacred Heart.

Her grave marker includes the words “She taught religion to the children, cared for the sick and the orphans, taught hymns and prayers and came to this cemetery every night to pray for those buried here.” 

(At left is the painting  on her grave marker)