The Sacred Heartbeat: A Guide to Native American Drums & Songs
Among the Lakota and other Native American peoples, the drum occupies a position of great cultural and symbolic power. It is more than a musical instrument; it is a living entity, a spiritual guardian, and a direct connection to the heartbeat of Mother Earth. From intimate ceremonies to vibrant powwows, the drum’s rhythm carries the […]
What is a Powwow? Meaning, Traditions, Dances, and Regalia Explained
A Native American powwow is a cultural gathering that blends tradition and community through dancing, singing, and personal expression. Powwows are living celebrations where Native people honor their heritage, reconnect with family, and share stories across generations. Through movement, music, and regalia, dancers express both community identity and their own individual journeys. Each powwow reflects […]
Native American Culture: Understanding and Preserving Heritage
Native American Culture & Traditions: Understanding and Preserving Heritage November is Native American Heritage Month and the perfect opportunity to explore the vibrant world of Native American culture and traditions. Native American culture is an intricate tapestry woven from the threads of history, spirituality, and connection to the land. Threatened by systematic erasure, they are cultures […]
Fostering Cultural Pride Among Native Youth at Pine Ridge
At the Pine Ridge Reservation, a quiet yet powerful cultural resurgence is taking place among Native American youth. With the support of Running Strong for American Indian Youth®, programs aimed at nurturing cultural pride and preserving traditions are creating a profound impact. These initiatives focus on empowering young people to connect with their heritage, learn […]
Organic Gardens: Cultivating Health and Hope in Native American Food Deserts
Native American food deserts have become a pressing issue, with many communities facing significant challenges in accessing fresh, nutritious food. The Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota is a prime example, where geographic isolation and economic hardships contribute to a lack of grocery stores and healthy food options. Running Strong for American Indian Youth® is […]
Water Scarcity Solutions Flourish on Pine Ridge Reservation
In the heart of the expansive Pine Ridge Reservation, a community once burdened by the heavy weight of water scarcity is now experiencing a remarkable transformation, brimming with hope and promise. While challenges persist, there’s a newfound sense of optimism, all thanks to the water scarcity solutions and tireless efforts of organizations like Running Strong […]
August 20, 2021 | News You Can Use!
This Friday, catch up on some of the stories we’re following from Indian Country. The first local level results of the 2020 Census are in, leading to redistricting questions for Native populations; the Colorado governor strikes down a 157-year-old proclamation targeting Indigenous peoples; a historic cave in Missouri with more than 200 proto-paintings from early […]
Road To Tokyo: The Final Chapter
Patricia and I talked late into the night. Our main topic was to avoid becoming a casualty to what we called ‘post-athletic adjustment’. However, we both knew it was not going to happen to us. Why? Because we have too many fantastic opportunities awaiting us. To name a few, Patricia’s career as an artist, me […]
August 13, 2021 | News You Can Use, From All Over Indian Country!
Happy Friday and welcome to this week’s News You Can Use! The first local level results of the 2020 Census are in and the data shows promising news for Native communities; progress on the proposed $1 trillion infrastructure bill includes billions of dollars of support for Indian Country; states move to include more Native American […]
In small Hawi, Hawaii, two Dreamstarters team up to put on a summer day camp
While the COVID-19 continued to force most of our partners who operate summer camps for Native American children and youth to put their programs on hiatus for a second year, a couple have been able to soldier on in a safe and responsible manner. In the small community of Hawi on the Big Island of […]
Release: The Oyate Teca Project Breaks Ground on Oyate Ta Kola Ku Community Center
Running Strong for American Indian Youth to support 21,000 ft2 structure on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation KYLE, SD – On Tuesday, August 10, the Oyate Teca Project and Running Strong for American Indian Youth officially broke ground for the Oyate Ta Kola Ku Community Center after receiving the appropriate ground blessings from community members. The […]
Dreamstarter® Dawn Marie helps her students succeed with StudyStrong kits
Running Strong for American Indian Youth® 2020 Dreamstarter Dawn Marie Johnson (Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate), is a Career & Technical Education teacher and Community Outreach Coordinator at the Joe Foss High School at Axtell Park in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. As a Dreamstarter, Dawn’s dream is to create health and well-being kits for students in the […]
A Letter to Gene “Oyate Ta Kola Ku” Krizek, Founder of Christian Relief Services, for Pine Ridge Community Center Groundbreaking
“… I would now like to share a few words about the man who is the inspiration for this community center. Eugene Krizek was born on December 17, 1927, in Cleveland, Ohio. During the next 93 years, Gene would join the U.S. Air Force under General Dwight D. Eisenhower, go to Washington, DC as a […]
August 6, 2021 | News You Can Use!
The Red Road to DC totem pole journey across the nation reaches its destination at the US Capitol and is received with remarks by Secretary of the Interior Deb Halaand; the only Native Hawaiian surfer wins gold at the Tokyo Olympics; Billy Mills joins Indian Country Today for a recap of his historic race; and […]
Red Road To DC: Running Strong supports cross-country totem pole trip to protect sacred lands
Running Strong for American Indian Youth® is proud to have been a supporter of the Red Road to DC, “A Totem Pole Journey for the Protection of Sacred Places” which began in April in Washington State and culminated in Washington, DC, on July 29, 2021. The 25-foot, 5,000- pound totem pole was carved from a […]
August brings a need for school supplies across the country
This month, Running Strong for American Indian Youth® is shipping out close to 5,000 “Study Strong” backpacks filled with all the school supplies Native American elementary and junior high school students will need to get off to great new school year, hopefully back again in their classrooms as COVID-19 restrictions become more relaxed since the […]
July 2021 E-News: The Olympics Return to Tokyo, Dreamstarter Noah Hotchkiss leads fellow wheelchair athletes to victory, and more!
The Olympics return to Tokyo and Where Billy’s Story All Began After a year of anticipation, the 2021 Tokyo Olympics are finally here! The Opening Ceremonies of the Olympic Games on July 23 represented a global day of reflection on the power and importance of athletic excellence, even in these most challenging times. At the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, […]
Road to Tokyo: Post-Olympics Competing in Finland, Norway, Russia, and Germany
The global track and field enthusiasts have been treated to an incredible June and July track season featuring unbelievable races from the one mile to the 10,000 meters. On June 9, 1965, Michel Jazy from France set a new one mile world record. Five days later, he set two more world records, the 3,000 meters […]
Billy Mills and the 2021 Tokyo Olympics | News You Can Use!
The XXXII Tokyo Olympics Opening Ceremonies are tonight, and to celebrate we’ve compiled Billy’s most recent interviews and profiles reflecting on his historic win at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics 57 years ago. Catch up with one of the most thrilling stories in Olympics track and field history, sit back, and let the Games begin! [visual-link-preview […]
Boulder Rotary Club will raise $150,000 to be matched by Running Strong for clean water connections on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
In 2019, Running Strong for American Indian Youth® entered a Memorandum of Understanding in which Running Strong has agreed to match up to $150,000 in donations raised by the Boulder (Colorado) Rotary Club (BRC) and provided to Running Strong by the Boulder Rotary Club. The MoU stipulates that the BRC will provide $3,000 per individual […]
July 16, 2021 | News You Can Use, from Indian Country!
Happy Friday and welcome to this week’s News You Can Use! Check out our online and physical store Intertribal Creativesas covered by Forbes.com, read about the first MMIW office opening in Minnesota, Chief Standing Bear’s tomahawk is returned from Harvard, and more in this week’s NYCU. [visual-link-preview encoded=”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”] [visual-link-preview encoded=”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”] [visual-link-preview encoded=”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”] [visual-link-preview encoded=”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”] [visual-link-preview […]
Summer Heats Up as Pine Ridge Reservation Father Jordan and Essential Worker Angel Get Water Connections
With warm months of spring long gone, and the hot summer months here today, our contractor on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is able to work steadily now through fall connecting families lacking running water – many for years — to the main water service line which runs through the reservation. In sum, this is […]
Road To Tokyo: After Tokyo, The Competition Continues to Heat Up
The day is Friday, June 25, 1965, and I am at the five mile mark of my fast paced, hilly ten mile run over Camp Pendleton’s engineering roads and trails. Approaching a very steep hill of about 50 yards, where I usually sprint to the top, my senses are alert! Once again, I see it! […]
After 25 Years, Veteran Bill Finally Gets Running Water To His Pine Ridge Home
At Running Strong for American Indian Youth® we have been providing water to Native American families on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation for more than 30 years – ever since we heard from Oglala Sioux Tribal Chief Joe American Horse that access to water was his people’s most pressing need. First, we delivered it by […]
Samantha Yellow Fat, first a Dreamstarter, now bringing Smart Sacks to her rural Smee School District
Come August, nearly 200 students who attend the Wakpala K-12 School in Wakpala, South Dakota (and their families) will be very pleasantly surprised to learn that at the end of each school week they will be taking home a “Smart Sack” filled with food for themselves, their siblings and their parents. Years ago, upon learning […]
June 2021 E-News: Food Sovereignty, Summer Youth Feeding Program, and more!
Food sovereignty solves long-existing food insecurity issues on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation Today, many places throughout Indian Country, particularly on reservations such as the Pine Ridge Indian and Cheyenne River Sioux Indian reservations, are known as “food deserts” where access to fresh vegetables, fruit and other nutritious foods is extremely limited — and expensive and […]
With Breakfast and Lunch, Cheyenne River youth stay full throughout the summer
Right now, through August 6, hundreds of children are receiving free “grab-‘n-go” breakfasts and lunches at three locations scattered out on the vast and remote Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation in South Dakota through our Summer Youth Feeding Program. Thanks to the supporters of Running Strong for American Indian Youth®, for 53 weekdays between the […]
June 18, 2021 | News You Can Use from Indian Country!
In this week’s News You Can Use, read about the first female chief of Cherokee Nation, Wilma Mankiller, receiving the honor of appearing on a U.S. quarter; learn about the comics of Marty Two Bulls (Oglala Lakota), 2021 Pulitzer Prize Editorial Cartoonist finalist; review the First Nations Development Institute’s #NativeReads recommending reading list; and more, […]
Running Strong gives support to families living in “food deserts”
For countless generations the Indigenous people of what is today the United States relied on the bounty of the land for food which was both plentiful and healthy. But that was before the Europeans came, took their land, killed their buffalo by the millions and relocated them to reservations. Today, many places throughout Indian Country, […]
June 11, 2021 | News You Can Use!
Welcome to the June 11 edition of Running Strong’s News You Can Use! This week’s top stories include a celebration of Indigenous Pride, an update on the fight against Canadian oil pipeline Line 3, the history of our partner Oyate Teca Project’s hometown name of “Kyle”, and more! [visual-link-preview encoded=”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”] [visual-link-preview encoded=”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”] [visual-link-preview encoded=”eyJ0eXBlIjoiZXh0ZXJuYWwiLCJwb3N0IjowLCJwb3N0X2xhYmVsIjoiIiwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kaWFuei5jb20vTmV3cy8yMDIxLzA2LzA5L2Fzc2lzdGFudC1zZWNyZXRhcnktbm9taW5lZS1icnlhbi1uZXdsYW5kLXZvd3MtdG8tYnVpbGQtYmFjay1iZXR0ZXItYWZ0ZXItcGFuZGVtaWMvIiwiaW1hZ2VfaWQiOi0xLCJpbWFnZV91cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5pbmRpYW56LmNvbS9OZXdzL3dwLWNvbnRlbnQvdXBsb2Fkcy8yMDIxLzA2LzA5L2JyeWFubmV3bGFuZC5qcGVnIiwidGl0bGUiOiJBc3Npc3RhbnQgU2VjcmV0YXJ5IG5vbWluZWUgQnJ5YW4gTmV3bGFuZCB2b3dzIHRvIOKAmGJ1aWxkIGJhY2sgYmV0dGVy4oCZIGFmdGVyIENPVklELTE5Iiwic3VtbWFyeSI6Ikl04oCZcyBhIGJpZyBkYXkgZm9yIEJyeWFuIE5ld2xhbmQsIHdobyBoYXMgYmVlbiBub21pbmF0ZWQgdG8gc2VydmUgYXMgdGhlIEFzc2lzdGFudCBTZWNyZXRhcnkgZm9yIEluZGlhbiBBZmZhaXJzIGluIHRoZSBKb2UgQmlkZW4gYWRtaW5pc3RyYXRpb24uIiwidGVtcGxhdGUiOiJ1c2VfZGVmYXVsdF9mcm9tX3NldHRpbmdzIn0=”] [visual-link-preview […]