Book excerpt: The first part of this two-volume work on the forms of Native American Catholicism during the last five centuries traces the spread of New Spain's Catholic institutions to Florida, Northern Mexico, and the US Southwest. It follows the heritage of French Catholicism among the Eastern Algonkians of Acadia and New England, and particularly the Passamaquoddies of Maine, from the 17th century to the present. The central figure in the narrative is Kateri Tekakwitha, the renowned Mohawk convert of the late 17th century. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR