Grandmother Rita Long Visitor Holy Dance

Unci means grandmother in Lakota. Unci Rita Long Visitor Holy Dance is Oglala Lakota, she was born in the SW corner of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota. She still lives on the land that was allotted to her great grandparents over 100 years ago. Unci Rita cherishes and advocates her traditional Lakota ways and language which she speaks fluently. Unci Rita is empathetic to single parents and their struggles to raise their children, because she herself was a single parent raising her children (and five of her oldest grandchildren) on her own. Unci Rita is skilled in survival knowing how to dry food and make clothing traditional Lakota style or contemporary wear. Today Unci Rita is a grandmother, great grandmother and great great grandmother. Unci Rita feels that being part of the grandmothers council feels like family, like blood relation, like the other grandmothers feel like her sisters. Unci Rita said the most important job the grandmothers council has is to keep all the people in a straight line, "no matter what denomination or color they are".

Upcoming Programs by Grandmother Rita Long Visitor Holy Dance

“Please thank all the staff for the kindness and care of service to us. It was felt by ALL. It allowed us to provide a nourishing container to the women who came to our retreat, all of whom are doing some form of service work out in the world be it in the arts, in social justice, in climate change,in philanthropy, in healing trauma, and in caring for people’s physical and emotional well being. We all need time to replenish!”

Jean Esther

“Menla sits on an energy vortex that is said to be the oldest known meteor crater in the world, and you can feel it. Maybe it’s electromagnetic, or maybe it’s the amazing energy of the people here, but Menla is a powerful and nurturing place that draws you like a giant magnet…. Menla is a deeply spiritual, restorative place, where you can reconnect with your higher self, ponder life’s true meaning.”

Rona Berg, Organic Spa

“Being able to come to a place like this, being around so many open minded people, and being able to volunteer and give back to a place that gives people so much, has truly been an unforgettably life changing experience that I continue to be grateful for.”

Shayna D.

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