Beatrice Long Visitor Holy Dance facts for kids

Beatrice Long Visitor Holy Dance was an important Oglala Lakota woman. She was a speaker and an activist from the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. She is well-known for being part of a group called the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers. This group started in New York in 2004.

In 2008, Beatrice and the other Grandmothers gave a special request to Pope Benedict XVI. They asked him to cancel old rules that allowed people to take over and change the beliefs of Indigenous peoples in America. Their request did not get an answer.

About Beatrice's Life

Beatrice Long Visitor Holy Dance was the daughter of Antonia Long Visitor Holy Dance. She was also the younger sister of Rita Long Visitor Holy Dance. When Beatrice was 7 years old, she went to a Catholic boarding school. After finishing school, she and Rita worked in a potato field. They earned 3 cents for each bushel of potatoes they picked. Beatrice and Rita later had a double wedding.

Beatrice was a member of the Native American Church. She took part in many important ceremonies in her community. She also worked in health care, helping people with diabetes. She was part of a youth ambassador program with her sister. This program helped young people learn about Native American spirituality.

Beatrice often talked about forgiveness. She saw how Christian missionaries tried to stop the Lakota faith. She also saw the government move Lakota people onto reservations. Even with these hard experiences, she chose to pray for others. She said, "I pray that they have a clean soul and will someday be in the Creator's arms."

For many years, she drove a truck on the reservation. She delivered medicines to people. In 2012, she led a workshop for girls. She taught them "how to properly cut buffalo meat and dry it."

A Powerful Quote

Beatrice shared an important message:

We have to keep repeating the prayers over and over again. When I reflect on my life of 79 years, I see a flat road of destruction. Ozone layer is depleting. The most powerful tool with us is to pray and pray with other communities for world peace.

The 13 Grandmothers Council

In 2004, the leaders of The Center for Sacred Studies asked Beatrice to join their group. This group was the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers.

In 2009, a newspaper called The Gazette said that Beatrice's travel schedule with the Grandmothers was "hectic." She often traveled by bus or car. Her daughter, Loretta Long Visitor, usually drove her.

In 2008, Beatrice and the 13 Grandmothers went to Vatican City. They personally gave a request to Pope Benedict XVI. They asked him to cancel three old rules. These rules, called papal bulls, had allowed people to convert and take control of Indigenous peoples in the Americas.

The papal bulls they wanted to be canceled were:

• Dum Diversas, from June 18, 1452
• Romanus Pontifex, from January 8, 1455
• Inter Caetera, from May 4, 1493

The Grandmothers did not receive a response to their request. However, a letter Beatrice wrote about this topic was published. It appeared on the National Catholic Reporter website. The title of her letter was "The past is a very living thing: Try not to forget it." In 2011, Beatrice was also interviewed about her work with the Grandmothers group by the Women Rising Radio Project.

Her Passing

Beatrice Long Visitor Holy Dance passed away in 2016. Her life was celebrated for four days. This special ceremony took place from August 25 to August 28, 2016. It was held in Phoenicia, New York, which is where the Grandmothers group first started their mission.