First Nations religious practices are diverse and varied, and different tribes and communities may have their own unique religious leaders and practices. Therefore, the term “priest” may not necessarily be applicable to all Native American traditions.

However, some Native American traditions do have religious leaders who may be considered analogous to priests in other religious traditions. For example, among the Hopi people of the Southwest, there are kachina priests who are responsible for maintaining the rituals and practices associated with kachina ceremonies. Among the Navajo, there are medicine men or women who are considered to be spiritual leaders and healers.

In general, the role of religious leaders in Native American cultures is often intertwined with other aspects of their culture, such as traditional knowledge, medicine, and social organization. Rather than having a separate class of religious specialists, many Native American communities view spirituality and religious practices as an integral part of daily life.

So, before assuming that a Native American elder or shaman is a priest, ask in a respectful way. With that being said, there are some Native Americans who have converted to Catholicism and eventually became ordained as priests.