Mni Wiconi: Water Is Life
Running Strong has been bringing water to thousands of Pine Ridge Indian Reservation families since 1986. This year, our goal is to connect ALL the remaining homes to running water.
Learn More
Previous
Next
Mni Wiconi: Water Is Life
Running Strong has been bringing water to thousands of Pine Ridge Indian Reservation families since 1986. This year, our goal is to connect ALL the remaining homes to running water.
Learn More
Previous
Next

Our Approach

We Put Youth
First

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

American Indian-Led

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

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.

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.

Running Strong Changes Lives

"We were so grateful to Running Strong for the school supplies and backpacks. Our local programs are operating on limited budgets and were not able to help this year. Running Strong filled a void and helped families who would not have been able to get help."
Cheryl Kary
Sacred Pipe Resource Center

Program Spotlight

Organic Food and Gardens 

Our organic gardens and food programs tackle malnutrition by providing healthy meals and fresh produce to Native American children and their families. We help to establish community gardens, household gardens, and communal greenhouse programs while also integrating educational and cultural aspects and how to plant traditional gardens.

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.

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.

find us wherever you use social media!

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

Keeping up with our Microenterprise Development Program, run by Dreamstarter Josh Smith!! ... See MoreSee Less

Keeping up with our Microenterprise Development Program, run by Dreamstarter Josh Smith!!Image attachmentImage attachment

Comment on Facebook

Congratulations!

Sara’s dream is to engage Native youth in her community with traditional food systems and teach them how to use their cultural practices to address food security issues.

Through the Three Sisters Garden, Native students can grow indigenous plants, learn traditional recipes, and have access to fresh and healthy food.

Learn more about Sara and the rest of the 2023 Dreamstarters at www.IndianYouth.org/2023Dreamstarters

*photos courtesy of Sara Powell

Nebo Title VI Indian Education
... See MoreSee Less

Sara’s dream is to engage Native youth in her community with traditional food systems and teach them how to use their cultural practices to address food security issues.

Through the Three Sisters Garden, Native students can grow indigenous plants, learn traditional recipes, and have access to fresh and healthy food.

Learn more about Sara and the rest of the 2023 Dreamstarters at www.IndianYouth.org/2023Dreamstarters

*photos courtesy of Sara Powell

Nebo Title VI Indian EducationImage attachmentImage attachment+4Image attachment

Corice’s dream is to strengthen tribal sovereignty and support tribal emergency management systems by using drone technology to increase accessibility to disaster relief funds.

The Soaring Eagles Project will strengthen the tribes' self-governance, making them more self-sufficient in conducting preliminary damage assessments and declaring disasters.

To learn more about Corice and the rest of the 2023 Dreamstarters, please visit www.IndianYouth.org/2023-Dreamstarters .

*photos courtesy of Corice Lieb

University of Nebraska at Omaha
... See MoreSee Less

Corice’s dream is to strengthen tribal sovereignty and support tribal emergency management systems by using drone technology to increase accessibility to disaster relief funds.

The Soaring Eagles Project will strengthen the tribes self-governance, making them more self-sufficient in conducting preliminary damage assessments and declaring disasters.

To learn more about Corice and the rest of the 2023 Dreamstarters, please visit www.IndianYouth.org/2023-Dreamstarters .

*photos courtesy of Corice Lieb

University of Nebraska at OmahaImage attachmentImage attachment+2Image attachment

Tillie’s dream is to elevate the voices of young Apsáalooke women, reconnect them with the land, and strengthen their participation in environmental justice work.

The Biawaatchaache (Good Woman) Collective is a group of young Apsáalooke women who are dedicated to uplifting and strengthening their voices, learning about the connection between culture and environment from knowledge-holders, increasing environmental literacy, and developing scalable solutions to the environmental injustices around them.

Learn more about Tillie and the rest of the 2023 Dreamstarters at www.IndianYouth.org/2023-Dreamstarters

*photos courtesy of Tillie Stewart
... See MoreSee Less

Tillie’s dream is to elevate the voices of young Apsáalooke women, reconnect them with the land, and strengthen their participation in environmental justice work.

The Biawaatchaache (Good Woman) Collective is a group of young Apsáalooke women who are dedicated to uplifting and strengthening their voices, learning about the connection between culture and environment from knowledge-holders, increasing environmental literacy, and developing scalable solutions to the environmental injustices around them.

Learn more about Tillie and the rest of the 2023 Dreamstarters at www.IndianYouth.org/2023-Dreamstarters

*photos courtesy of Tillie StewartImage attachmentImage attachment+3Image attachment

Comment on Facebook

Our youth are so wise. We must follow their lead & protect them. <3

Calling All Creatives!
Our Dreamstarter Creative Applications are now open.
... See MoreSee Less

Calling All Creatives! 
Our Dreamstarter Creative Applications are now open.

Comment on Facebook

Robyn Kay Iron

Kristen Suagee-Beauduy

Dakota Murray

Tiana Tavo

Gracie Mae

View more comments

McKalee’s dream is to see sovereign tribal nations reclaim their lands and natural resources, and to see the future for Native youth secured through increased representation of Natives in academia and support for young Native advocates in their own “Landback” initiatives.

Indigenous Youth Perspectives and Action on Landback will bring together youth from various communities in the U.S. with the goal of sharing experiences and practical lessons regarding Landback efforts within our communities.

To learn more about McKalee and the rest of the 2023 Dreamstarters, visit www.IndianYouth.org/2023-Dreamstarters.

*photos courtesy of McKalee Steen

AISES
... See MoreSee Less

McKalee’s dream is to see sovereign tribal nations reclaim their lands and natural resources, and to see the future for Native youth secured through increased representation of Natives in academia and support for young Native advocates in their own “Landback” initiatives.

Indigenous Youth Perspectives and Action on Landback will bring together youth from various communities in the U.S. with the goal of sharing experiences and practical lessons regarding Landback efforts within our communities.

To learn more about McKalee and the rest of the 2023 Dreamstarters, visit www.IndianYouth.org/2023-Dreamstarters.

*photos courtesy of McKalee Steen

AISESImage attachmentImage attachment+3Image attachment
Load more

Help American Indian Youth by Donating Today!