Unci Rita Long Visitor Holy Dance is an Oglala Sioux who lives on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. She is a Lakota keeper of the traditional ways, great grandmother, Native American Church elder, and beadworker descended from Long Visitor and members of the Crazy Horse Band, named for the great warrior, Crazy Horse.  The Oglala Lakota of Pine Ridge are the largest band of the great Sioux nation and represent the majority of the Teton Sioux. 

Grandmother Rita prays for youth to find their spiritual paths and leave drugs and alcohol alone. Grandmother Rita reminds us of the sacred rites given to the Lakota people by the White Buffalo Calf Woman 19 generations ago. "Our spiritual ways, our Sun Dance ways are encouraging prayer and bringing a lot of people back," she says. "A lot of young boys and girls are coming into the Sun Dance and are learning to reconnect with the source of their being." 

Grandmother Rita, and her sister Beatrice Long Visitor Holy Dance, expressed their gratitude to the Grandmothers Council for being asked to join. They spoke about peace, love, hope, faith, and charity, all the things that go with Mother Earth. They hope the Grandmothers Council brings good things to the children, grandchildren, and children to come and will give a voice to the Lakota People.