Alta Bruce-Nadeau, Giizhigaate`osekwe (Moonlight Walker Woman), age 66, passed away on Tuesday December 22, 2020 at home.

Alta was born on December 24, 1953 in Belcourt, ND to Donald and Marie Bruce.  She was raised the youngest of four siblings in Belcourt.  She attended school in Belcourt and in Stephan, SD.  She furthered her education at Dakota College in Bottineau, ND.  Following graduation from Dakota College, she moved to Minneapolis.  Alta accepted a position as a clerk for the FBI.  She always spoke fondly of this experience and her time in Minneapolis.  She loved everything about the Twin Cities, from the Vikings to Prince.  She shared her love of concerts, plays, and travel with her children.  The first play she took her daughter to was Cats and many more followed.  She shared her love of music, attending Prince, Cher, Tina Turner, and Diana Ross concerts among the many.  Alta encouraged her children to explore, embrace the unfamiliar, and be open to opportunities.

Alta returned to college and graduated from the University of North Dakota.  She worked for INMED (Indians Into Medicine) at UND for several years, before accepting a position at Haskell Indian Junior College in Lawrence, KS.  Following her time in Kansas, she lived in Montana before returning to the Turtle Mountains.  She spent time working for the tribe, IHS, and the college.

She married Linus Nadeau on June 21 ^st 1997.  They enjoyed their life together, spending time with their grandchildren, going to the casino, preparing food for friends and family, attending sweat lodge ceremonies, and taking the occasional trip.  Christmas Eve was always a celebration for the family, good food, laughs, and gratitude.

Alta made an impact in Indian Country.  She established the Indigenous People's Brain Injury Association, which at the time was the only group that assisted with the tracking, educating, advocating, and providing support to the Indigenous population with traumatic brain injury.  She established this association, following a car accident that left her nephew with a TBI.

She was involved in the North Dakota Intertribal Reinterment Committee, which sought for the return of the remains of ancestors and artifacts to tribes.  She was committed to serving Indigenous people and advocating for progress.

Alta had a special presence.  She was funny, kind, loving, understanding, strong, confident, beautiful and fiercely independent.  She had friends throughout Indian Country and loved her family immensely.  The work that she did and the family that she created is her legacy.

Alta is survived by her husband, Linus of Rolette; son Zack of Rolette; and daughter Dawn (Rene) Gallardo of Washington; five grandchildren, Zoee King, Zayne King, Isabella Gallardo, Sophia Gallardo, and Isaiah Gallardo.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Donald and Marie Bruce, her sisters Lorraine Holmes, Vita Archambault, Delcie Jerome, and her brother Willard Bruce.

There will be a memorial and feast to celebrate Alta's life this summer at the Sundance grounds.

Our family would like to extend a special thank you to the Sundance family.  Thank you for your support and love during this time.

"There is something about losing a mother that is permanent and inexpressible-a wound that will never quite heal."

-Susan Wiggs

Elick Funeral Home, Rolla, ND.