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.
Our focus on youth programs fosters change across age groups and entire communities.
Our leadership is committed to preserving the traditions, languages and sanctity of American Indian communities.
Rather than coming into a community and announcing what we will do, we listen to what our partners tell us they need.
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.
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.
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.
Culture builds nations. Sovereignty sustains them.
Today’s Word of the Day: Oyate - Nation
A nation is more than land — it is people, language, traditions, and shared values. Strong nations are rooted in cultural pride and self-sufficiency, standing together to protect what is sacred.
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Language connects us to resilience. Culture reminds us of strength.
Today’s word is: Takini — Survivor.
To be a survivor is to carry forward the stories, traditions, and wisdom of those who came before us — despite hardship and struggle. Survival itself reflects sovereignty: the ability of Native nations to endure, protect culture, and shape the future on their own terms.
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150 Boxes distributed in September.
"A big THANK YOU to Running Strong for American Indian Youth for helping MCCO continue bringing food into our community! ✨
With their support, we’ve been able to work with the Eastern Oklahoma Food Bank to get food boxes out to local families who need them most. 💙
Every box means a family has a little less to worry about, and every partnership like this keeps our mission moving forward. We are so grateful for Running Strong, the Food Bank, and everyone who helps us serve Muldrow and the surrounding area." - Tashaa Harris
👉 Like this post to show your support.
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🌟 What starts as a single dream can transform a whole community.
In 2015, Samantha Yellow Fat of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe dreamed of helping Native youth heal. With her Dreamstarter grant, she brought a Clinical Psychologist into her community, launched grief and loss support groups, and led art therapy workshops that gave youth strength and lasting friendships.
After completing her degree, Samantha returned home as a licensed school social worker—determined to keep building on that dream.
By 2021, she saw another need: making sure her students had access to nutritious food. She reached back out to Running Strong and brought the Smart Sacks program to her school, ensuring children are nourished through weekends and breaks.
✨ Today, Samantha is a full-time counselor at Wakpala School, coordinating food programming and uplifting students in both body and spirit.
👉 Ready to take the first step toward your own dream? Applications are open now for the 2026 Dreamstarter Food Sovereignty grants: indianyouth.org/dreamstarter-apply/ ... See MoreSee Less
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What keeps us moving when the path is difficult? Perseverance.
Today’s word is: Wowaciŋtaŋka — Perseverance.
It means holding on to language, carrying traditions forward, and making choices that keep communities strong for generations.
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What is sovereignty?
For Native nations, it’s the right to live true to who we are — guided by our traditions, values, and knowledge. It’s the ability to make decisions for our communities without outside forces defining us.
Sovereignty isn’t something handed to tribes — it’s something we have always carried, long before the United States. At its heart, it protects the space to care for families, homelands, and cultures in ways that are true to us.
It also sustains the future — giving us the power to teach languages, practice ceremonies, create community-driven economies, and carry stories and traditions forward.
Cultural, political, and economic sovereignty together ensure Native people remain strong, self-determined, and connected to identity for generations to come. ... See MoreSee Less
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