Loretta Afraid of Bear Cook

Dr. Antonia Loretta Afraid-of-Bear-Cook (Anpetu Luta Win) carries a sacred role as the faith-keeper and steward of the Afraid of Bear/American Horse Sundance pipe. Guided from an early age by the wisdom of her maternal and paternal grandparents, Anpetu Luta Win embodies the rich heritage of her People as a first-language Lakota speaker, ceremonial practitioner, and keeper of ancestral knowledge.

Together with her husband, Tom Cook, she champions food sovereignty, bringing life and sustenance to the land and her community by helping establish hundreds of gardens across the Pine Ridge Reservation and the Mohawk Reserve in Akwesasne. Her dedication to nurturing and sustaining her People is woven into every aspect of her life's work.

Loretta's late mother, Beatrice Long Visitor Holy Dance, and her aunt, Rita Long Visitor Holy Dance, both served as esteemed members of the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers. Walking alongside her mother as translator and helper, Loretta journeyed around the world to share the sacred traditions of the Lakota, embodying the strength and grace of her lineage.

With a heart devoted to the transfer of traditional knowledge from elders to youth, Loretta continues to teach, guide, and inspire, sharing her culture with communities near and far. She is a deeply loving wife, mother, sister, and grandmother, who honors her ancestors with every prayer and action. Her life’s work is a living offering to the generations who came before her and to those yet to come—dedicated to the well-being and flourishing of her descendants for the next seven generations.