Leading Nonprofit Organization for Native American Communities

Our Approach

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We Put Youth
First

Our focus on youth programs fosters change across age groups and entire communities.

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American Indian-Led

Our leadership is committed to preserving the traditions, languages and sanctity of American Indian communities.

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We Help Where Needed Most

Rather than coming into a community and announcing what we will do, we listen to what our partners tell us they need.

Native youth and community members in regalia at cultural celebration

Billy Mills

Billy Mills, Oglala Lakota (Sioux) is Running Strong’s National Spokesperson. An Olympic gold medalist at the 1964 Olympics, Billy has dedicated his life to serving Native American communities.

Program Spotlight

Clean Water

When Running Strong for American Indian Youth® was formed in 1986, getting clean, safe drinking water to the residents of Pine Ridge was one of our top priorities. Previously, Running Strong satisfied this need by drilling water wells. However, the need for wells declined as the Oglala Sioux Rural Water Supply System was created and water lines were laid providing access to water. This past year through Diné NaabehóTó (the Navajo People’s Water Challenge), Running Strong connected 13 households to water in these communities, providing 92 individuals with access to clean, running water.  

Native american children and adult stand beside new water spigot outside rural home
Young Native students engaged in early education classroom

Dreamstarter

When Running Strong for American Indian Youth® was formed in 1986, getting clean, safe drinking water to the residents of Pine Ridge was one of our top priorities. Previously, Running Strong satisfied this need by drilling water wells. However, the need for wells declined as the Oglala Sioux Rural Water Supply System was created and water lines were laid providing access to water.

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After months of hard work, the Oyate Ta Kola Ku Food Pantry is almost ready to open on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation!

Housed in a 320 sq. ft. modular unit at the OTKK Community Center, this pantry will provide families with year-round access to food and essential supplies. It’ll be open three days a week, with additional days for restocking and distributing food boxes across the community.

But before we can stock the shelves, a few critical pieces are still missing: electrical hookups, shelving, a refrigerator, a commercial freezer and cooler, and a service counter.

Will you help us complete the space?

Soon, families will be able to pick up canned goods, rice, pasta, frozen meats—and even fresh produce from the Medicine Root Garden.

Let’s finish this pantry—together.

bit.ly/43c8Mkd
... See MoreSee Less

After months of hard work, the Oyate Ta Kola Ku Food Pantry is almost ready to open on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation!

Housed in a 320 sq. ft. modular unit at the OTKK Community Center, this pantry will provide families with year-round access to food and essential supplies. It’ll be open three days a week, with additional days for restocking and distributing food boxes across the community.

But before we can stock the shelves, a few critical pieces are still missing: electrical hookups, shelving, a refrigerator, a commercial freezer and cooler, and a service counter.

Will you help us complete the space?

Soon, families will be able to pick up canned goods, rice, pasta, frozen meats—and even fresh produce from the Medicine Root Garden.

Let’s finish this pantry—together.

https://bit.ly/43c8MkdImage attachment

Native women are the roots of their families and the memory-keepers of their people. They are aunties, sisters, daughters, mothers, and grandmothers—holding everything together with a strength that’s rarely seen but deeply felt.

This Mother’s Day, let’s do more than say thank you. Let’s show up for them.

🌺 $67 sends a maternal care kit to a new mom—supporting her health and healing as she steps into her sacred role.

These gifts are small, but the message they carry is powerful:
We see you. We honor you. We’ve got you.

👉 bit.ly/3EUzYMf
... See MoreSee Less

Native women are the roots of their families and the memory-keepers of their people. They are aunties, sisters, daughters, mothers, and grandmothers—holding everything together with a strength that’s rarely seen but deeply felt. 

This Mother’s Day, let’s do more than say thank you. Let’s show up for them. 

🌺 $67 sends a maternal care kit to a new mom—supporting her health and healing as she steps into her sacred role. 

These gifts are small, but the message they carry is powerful: 
 We see you. We honor you. We’ve got you.

👉 https://bit.ly/3EUzYMf

On Sunday, May 18th, join Billy Mills, Kutoven Stevens, and the Remaining Native team, for a community 5k!

Along with the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation, and 4th World Media, Runners, walkers, and spectators are all welcome to attend. Billy Mills will join the event in the morning for a welcome. The event will begin at Daybreak Star at 9:00 AM, with runners taking off around 9:30 AM. Coffee, water, and light snacks will be provided. Later in the day, be sure to come see Tiger and Remaining Native at 5:00 PM at the Seattle International Film Festival!

Please RSVP for the run here: www.eventbrite.com/e/remaining-native-seattle-community-5k-run-tickets-1350500335859?aff=oddtdtcr...

www.siff.net/festival/remaining-native
... See MoreSee Less

On Sunday, May 18th, join Billy Mills, Kutoven Stevens, and the Remaining Native team, for a community 5k! 

Along with the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation, and 4th World Media, Runners, walkers, and spectators are all welcome to attend. Billy Mills will join the event in the morning for a welcome. The event will begin at Daybreak Star at 9:00 AM, with runners taking off around 9:30 AM. Coffee, water, and light snacks will be provided. Later in the day, be sure to come see Tiger and Remaining Native at 5:00 PM at the Seattle International Film Festival!

Please RSVP for the run here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/remaining-native-seattle-community-5k-run-tickets-1350500335859?aff=oddtdtcreator 

https://www.siff.net/festival/remaining-nativeImage attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment

Attend a special community event at the Hibulb Community Center for a screening of Remaining Native, a documentary feature film directed by Paige Bethmann, and Pow!, a 2D animated comedy short film directed by Joey Clift.

Following the screening, the filmmakers and Kutoven Stevens, will be joined by Billy Mills, National spokesperson for Running Strong for American Indian Youth, for a Q&A about the films. Both films will be screening at this year's Seattle International Film Festival. This event is also supported by the Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition.

This event is free but does have a limited capacity, it will be first-come, first-served seating.

www.eventbrite.com/e/free-community-screening-tickets-1325964729199?aff=oddtdtcreator
... See MoreSee Less

Attend a special community event at the Hibulb Community Center for a screening of Remaining Native, a documentary feature film directed by Paige Bethmann, and Pow!, a 2D animated comedy short film directed by Joey Clift.

Following the screening, the filmmakers and Kutoven Stevens, will be joined by Billy Mills, National spokesperson for Running Strong for American Indian Youth, for a Q&A about the films. Both films will be screening at this years Seattle International Film Festival. This event is also supported by the Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition. 

This event is free but does have a limited capacity, it will be first-come, first-served seating.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/free-community-screening-tickets-1325964729199?aff=oddtdtcreator

Painters, Potters, Creatives, Oh My! Dreamstarter Creative Applications are open now!

We encourage Native American artists, from any medium to apply for a grant of up to $2,500 to help support their craft, further their art education and develop their brands.

Apply now through June 6th, 2025!

Visit bit.ly/4iN6mhy for more!
... See MoreSee Less

Painters, Potters, Creatives, Oh My! Dreamstarter Creative Applications are open now! 

We encourage Native American artists, from any medium to apply for a grant of up to $2,500 to help support their craft,  further their art education and develop their brands. 

Apply now  through June 6th, 2025! 

Visit https://bit.ly/4iN6mhy  for more!

Join Billy Mills in attending the Washington premiere of the award-winning documentary short film Tiger (directed by Loren Waters) alongside award-winning documentary feature Remaining Native (directed by Paige Bethmann) at the Seattle International Film Festival, May 17th and 18th!

About the Films:
“Tiger” highlights an Indigenous, award-winning, internationally acclaimed artist and elder, Dana Tiger, her family, and the resurgence of the iconic Tiger t-shirt company.

Remaining Native is a coming-of-age feature documentary told through the perspective of Ku Stevens, a 17-year-old Native American runner from the Yerington Paiute Reservation in Northwest Nevada. The film follows Ku as he navigates his way to college athletics while the memory of his great-grandfather’s 50-mile escape from Indian Boarding School begins to connect past, present, and future.

Following the screening on May 17th, join Running Strong for American Indian Youth and the 4th World Media Lab for a reception at The Vera Project. Please RSVP to attend.

www.siff.net/festival/remaining-native

www.eventbrite.com/e/remaining-native-tiger-reception-tickets-1334553358019?aff=oddtdtcreator
... See MoreSee Less

Join Billy Mills in attending the Washington premiere of the award-winning documentary short film Tiger (directed by Loren Waters) alongside award-winning documentary feature Remaining Native (directed by Paige Bethmann) at the Seattle International Film Festival, May 17th and 18th! 

About the Films: 
“Tiger” highlights an Indigenous, award-winning, internationally acclaimed artist and elder, Dana Tiger, her family, and the resurgence of the iconic Tiger t-shirt company.

Remaining Native is a coming-of-age feature documentary told through the perspective of Ku Stevens, a 17-year-old Native American runner from the Yerington Paiute Reservation in Northwest Nevada. The film follows Ku as he navigates his way to college athletics while the memory of his great-grandfather’s 50-mile escape from Indian Boarding School begins to connect past, present, and future. 

Following the screening on May 17th, join Running Strong for American Indian Youth and the 4th World Media Lab for a reception at The Vera Project. Please RSVP to attend. 

https://www.siff.net/festival/remaining-native 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/remaining-native-tiger-reception-tickets-1334553358019?aff=oddtdtcreatorImage attachmentImage attachment+2Image attachment
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