People claiming Katara has been "reduced" to "just a healer" in the in-universe canon will always irk me, because that's just not true.
First of all, there's nothing insulting in being known as the greatest healer of all time, but I already have a post about it so I'll not go into the inherent misogyny of seeing a job majorly performed by women as weak and reducing.
Let's talk facts, alright?
People took Korra referring to Katara as the best healer in the world ONE time and ran with it, saying that's all she's portrayed as in the media which came after the series.
Now, I can't speak about comics. I haven't read them yet, though I want to. But in LoK, Katara's first appearance was her being called "Master Katara" by the white lotus. Her opinion was asked on whether or not Korra's firebending training was complete and if she could start airbending training.
That is not something small. Her opinion clearly matters and is well-respected. She's also a member of the white lotus, whose other members are the best at their elements. That alone says a lot about Katara. She also trained Korra in waterbending.
So, no, Katara wasn't portrayed as just a healer in the show at all. She has been in a place of power and respect since the first episode in her EIGHTIES.
She's old and retired now. The only reason I believe she still works as the healer in the Southern Water Tribe is because she wants to, not because she can't do anything else. Katara has always wanted to help people before she wanted to fight someone.
The biggest example is when she donned the name of The Painted Lady. The first thing she did was HEAL the sick and provide them food. She didnβt even consider the fire nation soldiers until Sokka brought it up. Her retiring and deciding to spend the rest of her time healing people like she always wanted to, is not that far-fetched.
Also, LoK isn't just a show with her and the Gaang as main characters, so expecting her to perform some crazy feat in the show is kinda ridiculous lol.
She's also a councilwoman of the republic city in the new movie and plays a pretty damn big role in it even if she isn't the main focus.
Korra also called Katara the best healer while talking about healing. That was the topic, she just mentioned that she learned healing from someone who's the best at that art, while healing Bolin's shoulder.
What did you want her to say? "I learned healing from Katara, the best there is. BUT, she's also a master waterbender, a member of the white lotus, former councilwoman of the republic city, and many more feats. Did you know that? She's not just a healer, even though we are talking about healing so bringing up Katara's other achievements is kinda weird."
Just because one of her titles is being the greatest healer, doesn't mean that's all what she is, and I am tired of people trying to push the narrative that she's somehow been "reduced". She isn't. She lived her best life doing what she wanted to the most. Helping people. She helped people till her last days.
Just because that doesn't match your vision of help, doesn't mean it isn't help.