Prime Minister Stephen Harper is welcoming a Vatican decision to name a 17th century Mohawk woman as North America's first aboriginal saint in the Roman Catholic Church.

Kateri Tekakwitha lived in upper New York state, where she is honoured with this statue. She left her village for Kahnawake after being scorned by other Mohawks because of her Christian beliefs. (Mike Groll/Associated Press)

Pope Benedict has announced that Kateri Tekakwitha will be canonized on Oct. 21.

Tekakwitha is entombed in a marble shrine at St. Francis Xavier Mission in Kahnawake, Que.

She was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1980 in recognition of her unwavering devotion to God.

Benedict had already approved miracles attributed to Tekakwitha, the final step toward sainthood.

Known as the Lily of the Mohawks, Tekakwitha was born in 1656 in a village near Fonda, New York. She spent most of her life in upper New Yorkstate, but eventually fled to Kahnawake near Montreal to escape opposition to her Christianity.

Harper said her elevation to sainthood is good news.

"This will be a great day for Canadian Catholics and a deep honour for our country," he said in a statement.

Tekakwitha died in 1680 at age 24, and the process for her canonization began more than a century ago.