Henry Budd was the first person of First Nations ancestry to be ordained in the Anglican tradition in North America. He is remembered for his service among the Cree in Western Canada.

Budd was an orphan and the date of his birth is unknown. He entered a mission school that was a joint venture with the Hudsons Bay Company to provide a Christian education to the First Nations people in the area of Ruperts Land, the vast expanse of land that encircled Hudson Bay before its division into Canadian provinces. Before embarking on a vocation as a priest and teacher, he worked as a clerk for the Hudsons Bay Company.