Meet the 2020 – 2021 Dreamstarter Teachers!
Meet Kelly Silk! 2020-2021 Dreamstarter Teacher Kelly Silk (Standing Rock Sioux) is a fourth grade English/language arts, math, social studies and science teacher at Whittier Elementary in the Great Falls, MT, School District. Her Dreamstarter Teacher project is to provide flexible seating for every student in her classroom which will allow them to find comfortable […]
July E-News!
Celebrating 30 years of Mni Wiconi and a pledge from Boulder Rotary Club!
In recognition of the 30th Anniversary of the incorporation of Running Strong for American Indian Youth®, we are embarking on our Mni Wiconi (Water is Life) campaign with the goal of connecting households on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation to the main water service line which runs through the reservation – 30 running water connections […]
Road To Tokyo: October 14 – 10,000 Meters – First Place.
September 29, 1964: Saying goodbye to Patricia as I boarded the plane for Tokyo, Japan was difficult, even though she will be joining me on October 5. I just wish she was with me now. My time during the long flight was spent thinking about similarities in traditions, culture, and heritage that might exist between […]
COVID-19 Update for July 10
The Indian Health Service reported on July 7 that there were a total of 22,539 confirmed cases of COVID-19 throughout IHS areas, including 8,834 on the Navajo Nation and 1,114 in the Great Plains region in South Dakota where the Pine Ridge Indian and Cheyenne River reservations are located. That total number is more than […]
Road to Tokyo: A Tumultuous Experience for the Price of a Dream
Yesterday, July 26, 1964, I qualified for the Olympic team in the marathon. Today, just settling into a 10-mile run with a comfortable pace, it’s time to start analyzing my body to determine if there are any flare-ups with my recently healed injuries. New injuries can be dormant under the soreness, created by the stress […]
June E-News
Navajo Nation Relief Supplies Ship Out The Navajo Nation has been the hardest hit of any Native community by the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, and is experiencing among the highest per capita rates of confirmed coronavirus cases in the nation. “This virus didn’t originate on the Navajo Nation,” stated Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez. […]
Coronavirus relief supplies ship out to partners in Navajo Nation
The Navajo Nation has been the most hardest hit of any Native community by the COVID-19 pandemic of any reservation in the country, and is experiencing among the highest per capita rates of confirmed coronavirus cases in the nation, if not the highest. As of June 21, the Navajo Nation Department of Health reported 6,990 […]
Billy Mills: A poll doesn’t give a team the right to use an offensive name
REPOST FROM 2014: Regarding the May 20 Sports article “Snyder ‘gratified’ by poll, vows name will carry on” in the Washington Post: When considering the serious and contentious issue of the Washington football team’s name, it is important not to repeat the mistakes of the past. Stereotyping is one such mistake. Flawed polling methodology is […]
DS19 Taylor Eddie and the Art of Agriculture
2019 Running Strong for American Indian Youth Dreamstarter Taylor Eddie (Navajo Nation), 18, of Spanish Fork, Utah is pursuing her dream “A Complete Agricultural Experience” designed to introduce agriculture as business career and to show Native students how agriculture ties in to Native history and culture. Through her Dreamstarter project, Taylor has built a vegetable garden, a chicken coop, […]
Summer Youth Feeding Program keeps children full while out of school
As you may know, thanks to people like you, Running Strong has been providing free meals to all children on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation since June 1st through our Summer Youth Feeding Program. Every weekday, from now until August 7th, these children are guaranteed a fun and nutritious breakfast and lunch, which they would otherwise be unable to […]
2019 Dreamstarter Aukea Ka’aekuahiwi Protects Traditional Pork Project
2019 Running Strong for American Indian Youth Dreamstarter Aukea Ka’aekuahiwi (Native Hawaiian), 17, of Kapaa, is realizing his Hawaii dream project, “The Swine Project,” of producing and selling traditional foods by by building a certified underground cooker/steamer and teaching other Native Hawaiian youth the practices for creating traditional pork products. “The dream would be to help the […]
Freddy Gipp Reflects on Future of Young Professionals Powwow+
2019 Running Strong for American Indian Youth Dreamstarter Freddy Gipp (Apache Tribe of Oklahoma), 26, of Lawrence, Kansas, applied to our Dreamstarter program to encourage communities to host powwow celebrations to increase the economic and social impact of these communities through his dream project Powwow+. “Powwow+ is an opportunity for communities to engage in new and innovative […]
2019 Dreamstarter Jacob Crane Follows His Arrow’s Journey
2019 Running Strong for American Indian Youth Dreamstarter Jacob Crane (Tsuut’ina Nation), 31, of Provo, Utah, is realizing his dream of the “Arrow’s Journey Indigenous Initiative” and leading an all-indigenous media production team and inspiring Native youth through video storytelling. “This online series will use digital and social media to share young and successful indigenous […]
2019 Dreamstarter Kevin Belin Finds His Hozho
2019 Running Strong for American Indian Youth Dreamstarter Kevin Belin (Navajo Nation), 30, of Crownpoint, New Mexico, is realizing his dream “Hashké – Hozhó Design & Collaborative” by creating cultural materials and resources for the modern classroom, utilizing various approaches and methods to learning the Navajo language and culture. “We plan to expand and create […]
Sanitation Supplies Arrive Across the Country Just In Time for Summer
Within the past few weeks, thanks to the loyal and generous supporters of Running Strong for American Indian Youth, we were able to ship out 29 pallets of much-needed hygiene items to 16 of our partners throughout Indian Country, as well as to our field office on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, Tipi Waste Un […]
Statement from Billy Mills on Systemic Racism and This Historic Moment
Watching the news has been heartbreaking for many. Patricia and I listened in silence as we saw United States Park Police and National Guard troops use pepper spray, pellets, and tear gas on peaceful protestors, the news media, first aid station volunteers, and an 80-year-old priest – all for a photo opportunity. My thoughts were […]
Road to Tokyo: Qualifying for the Olympic Marathon Team
July 25, 1964. As we drive to Culver City, California, I explain to Patricia the process to make the USA Olympic Marathon Team. There are two marathon trials: The first was the USA Amateur Athletic Union Championship in Yonkers, New York on May 24, 1964. Only the winner is placed on the Olympic team. The Western Hemisphere Marathon in Culver City, California July 26, 1964 is the second Olympic trials. The first and second place finishers will round […]
Dreamstarter Teachers Michelle, John, and Jennifer Continue to Transform Classrooms
Our 2019-2020 Dreamstarter Teachers Michelle, John and Jennifer have all made significant impacts for the Native American students at their schools through increasing access to school supplies for families who cannot afford them, teaching students how to build underwater machines through hands-on experience, and teaching them more about the Native cultures, despite the challenges posed […]
Dave Lone Elk on the Radio and Billy Mills on Road Dog Podcast
Earlier today Dave Lone Elk, Running Strong Field Coordinator, was the featured guest on Gary Fife’s radio show for Mvskoke Media. Dave spoke about the recent XL food shipment to our field office, Tipi Waste, and described the impact the delivery had on his Pine Ridge Indian Reservation community. Dave went on to talk about […]
Dreamstarter Teachers Tiffany Cacy and Casy Cann progress despite school closures
Our 2019 cohort of Dreamstarter Teachers have experienced many challenges posed with the closure of their schools in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, but they have risen to those challenges and adapted to ensure that their projects continued onwards. Among them are Tiffany Cacy and Casy Cann who recently submitted their end of year […]
“You are my relative — Let me tell you a story.”
I find it inspiring witnessing those moments our health care workers are showered with love and appreciation for their dedication working countless hours leading the charge fighting COVID-19. These moments speak volumes about the virtues, values and strength of our nation when we come together for the betterment of all. What comes to mind is the power […]
Running Strong ships 74,800 lbs combined food to Cheyenne River, Pine Ridge Reservations
ALEXANDRIA, VA – Today, Running Strong for American Indian Youth delivered 44,200 pounds of shelf stable food to Running Strong’s field office Tipi Waste Un Zanipi (Wellness Through A Good Home) on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. The special delivery was an act of COVID-19 relief for 1,700 families, and was preceeded […]
Covid-19 update 5/8/2020
During these times of the coronavirus pandemic running rampant across the country, Running Strong for American Indian Youth has been working diligently to provide emergency relief on the Pine Ridge Indian and Cheyenne River reservations and the Navajo Nation, as well as applaud our Dreamstarters who have joined in the fight. Right now, 44,200 pounds […]
Despite pandemic lockdowns, water connections continue at a distance
As they say, the show must go on. And in the case of the Running Strong for American Indian Youth Mni Wiconi water projects program on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, that is exactly what is happening despite the reservation-wide lockdown. Our longtime contractor, Oglala Sioux-owned Badlands Enterprises recently received the essential status designation from […]
Meet Tom Cook of Slim Buttes Agricultural Program
Tom Kanatakeniate Cook: A Lifetime of Growing Food Sovereignty on Pine Ridge Tom Kanatakeniate Cook (Akwesasne Mohawk). For as long as he can remember, Tom Cook has toiled in the garden and helped others learn how to grow their own healthy, organic food. Tom was raised on a working dairy farm on the St. Regis Mohawk […]
Joshua Smith Founds a Native Owned, Socially Conscious Coffee Roasting Company
Coffee with a Purpose: Joshua Smith’s Vision for a Native-Owned Roastery Joshua’s dream is a coffee roaster focused on providing high-quality coffee to companies within the hospitality industry and making coffee for individual purchase online in the growing specialty roast coffee market. Joshua told us he is committed to partnering with existing Osage Nation organizations to […]
Road to Tokyo: My Dream is Our Dream
Dear Reader, You know by now the 2020 Olympic Games scheduled for Tokyo, Japan, this summer have been postponed over the growing concerns of the global pandemic. They have been rescheduled with opening ceremonies on July 23, 2021 and the closing ceremonies on August 8, 2021. The Paralympics will be held August 24 through September 5, 2021. The last time the summer Olympic Games were held in Tokyo was October 4-21, 1964. In Roy Tomizawa’s book […]
Covid-19 Update 4.24
Thanks to the continuing generosity of the supporters of Running Strong for American Indian Youth even during these times of the coronavirus pandemic which has closed reservations throughout Indian Country, we are thankful to still be able to carry out our mission. Just this week alone, we are pleased to report that an emergency shipment […]
Running Strong for American Indian Youth Ships 15 Tons of Food to Cheyenne River
ALEXANDRIA, VA – Today, Running Strong for American Indian Youth delivered 30,600 pounds of frozen food to the Eagle Butte Food Pantry on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation in South Dakota. The special delivery was an act of COVID-19 relief for 1,700 families. Food insecurity is a prevalent issue in remote rural communities, and Native […]