In creating her biography of Zintka, Renée Sansom Flood became obsessed with Zintka's absence from her relatives and tiyospaye in South Dakota. During one visit to the Pine Ridge Agency, Renée met with members of the Tribal Council, including Arvol Looking Horse. When called upon, Renée hesitantly made a request - she wanted to bring Zintkala Nuni home.

Renée and her son had located Zintka's resting place in California. Her friend, Marie Helps Not Him (Marie Fox Belly) had predicted that she would be found in white sand, a strange prophecy given the California landscape. Money was raised, and Zintka's body was exhumed, with ceremony officiated by the Oglala Lakota. Indeed, the casket was raised as rare white sand fell about the gravesite.

Zintka was flown to South Dakota, and paraded to Wounded Knee with a traditional horse-and-caisson procession. At the memorial cemetery by the Creek of so many horrors, Arvol Looking Horse led the rites, and Zintkala Nuni was laid beside the Spirits of her relatives. It was a journey of many years to bring about her return.

With her body, Renée laid a picture of her loving adoptive mother, Clara Colby.