Rita Pitka Blumenstein | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 11, 1933 |
| Died | August 6, 2021 (aged 88) |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Tail End Clearing of the Pathway to the Light |
| Occupation | Spiritual healer |
| Known for | Traditional healer, teacher, traditional basketweaver, artist |
Rita Pitka Blumenstein (Yup'ik, July 11, 1933 – August 6, 2021) was the first certified traditional doctor in Alaska.[1] She worked for the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. Blumenstein was a member of the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers—a group of spiritual elders, medicine women and wisdom keepers—since its founding in 2004.[2]