John J. Brown, S.J. (also known as Ksistaki-Poka), was an American Roman Catholic

priest A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particu ...

and educator. A Blackfoot man, he was the first full-blooded Native American ordained to the Catholic priesthood. Brown grew up in the eastern United States and attended Catholic school in Philadelphia and

Browning, Montana Browning is a town in Glacier County, Montana, United States. It is the headquarters for the Blackfeet Indian Reservation and the only incorporated town on the Reservation. The population was 1,018 at the 2020 census. The town was named in 188 ...

. He continued his studies at

Loyola University Chicago Loyola University Chicago (Loyola or LUC) is a private Jesuit research university in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1870 by the Society of Jesus, Loyola is one of the largest Catholic The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Cathol ...

where he earned a degree in theology. He joined the Jesuit order and was ordained on June 16, 1948, at

St. Ignatius Mission The St. Ignatius Mission is a landmark Jesuit missions in North America, Catholic mission located in St. Ignatius, Montana. It was founded in 1854 by Society of Jesus, Jesuit priests Pierre-Jean De Smet and Adrianus Hoecken, Adrian Hoecken. The ...

in Montana.

Notes

American Roman Catholic priests Blackfoot people Loyola University Chicago alumni Year of birth missing Year of death missing {{US-RC-clergy-stub