In Uncertain Times, Native American Communities Overcome Together
In these times of a worldwide coronavirus pandemic, and despite the serious challenges facing our partners throughout Indian Country, and the Native American children, families and elders they serve, they are — as they always have — persevering. At Running Strong for American Indian Youth we are continuing to strive to meet their needs, and […]
Celebrating Earth Day and Slim Buttes Agriculture 35th Anniversary
It’s Earth Day! A day to celebrate all the bounty that the earth provides. It’s also the 35th anniversary of the Slim Buttes Agricultural Development program on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The thousands of individual and community gardens that SBAG has assisted families to grow over the years has indeed helped generations to grow, […]
My prayer for all of us, today
It has been 29 days since Patricia and I started our self-quarantine. We began today like we have the days before, with a prayer to bless and watch over our first responders… all of those brave individuals going to work every day during these challenging times, placing their own health and lives in danger, servicing […]
Technology and Tradition Meet at the Yuchi Language Project
In times of anxiety and unknowing, culture is a reassuring lens through which to view the world. Whether through prayer, ritual, habit, or community, having a culture in common with those around you helps us all feel like we are together as one. Running Strong remains devoted to protecting and promoting Indigenous cultures, and now more than ever, […]
1 Water Hookup. 7 Families. 50 More Native Americans With Water
Being able to connect a single household on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation to the main water service line is rewarding enough for us at Running Strong for American Indian Youth, but being able to connect seven families with one project is awesome. Destiny, of Kyle, South Dakota, and her family of five, which includes […]
Despite social distancing, Native American families will still be counted this year
Thanks to the supporters of Running Strong for American Indian Youth, thousands of Native Americans throughout Indian Country are prepared to overturn undercounting in the 2020 U.S. Census. For the past several weeks, U.S. Census forms have been mailed out across the country with a requested response date of today, April 1, and thanks to […]
Together, I know we will see our way through
In these troubling times, the coronavirus pandemic and its devastating impact is first and foremost on my mind and that of all Americans, but I know we will see our way through. As a Lakota, I love to practice the attributes of a warrior. Our warriors were disciplined. They had courage, bravery and fortitude. Our […]
Road To Tokyo: Qualifying for the Olympic Trials
It’s a cool Saturday afternoon, June 6th, 1964. I am at the United States Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia, the site of the All-Military Track and Field Championships. Today is the final of the 10,000 meter run. The winner will advance to the 1964 USA Olympic trials on September 12th in Los Angeles, California. Avoiding […]
At times like this, all of us are glad we can count on your support
All of us at Running Strong for American Indian Youth want to tell you just how much your support has meant to our team and most importantly, the Native American families you’ve helped us assist during this situation. Over the past few days, we were so moved to see our supporters chipping in to help with our spring programs. Helping Native American families […]
An Update From Dreamstarter Teacher Jennifer Schoelmen
2019 Running Strong for American Indian Youth Dreamstarter Teacher Jennifer Schoelerman is a pre-K school counselor in the Timber Lake School District in north central South Dakota that includes portions of the both the Cheyenne River Sioux and Standing Rock Sioux Indian reservations. Timber Lake School has the distinction of being designated as Exemplary – […]
Oyate Teca Gardening Classes Begin to Take Root
It’s mid-March and the 45 participants in the Oyate Teca Project’s Medicine Root gardening program on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation have been planning out their gardens for several weeks, including where on their property will they locate it, what vegetables and fruits they will want to plant, and in what numbers. Throughout February, the […]
World Water Day 2020 and Running Strong Water Projects
Friday, March 22, is the United Nations’ World Water Day. The inspiration for this international day focuses on the importance of freshwater and awareness of those among us who live without access to safe water. Billy Mills and Gene Krizek understood from the start the importance of freshwater for all Americans when they founded Running […]
Three-Time Dreamstarter Mentor and Dreamstarter Teacher Cheryl Tuttle Shares Her Story (Part 2)
Shayleena was a 17-year-old senior when Cheryl recommended to her that she apply for a Dreamstarter grant to realize her dream: Wailaki Kun-nes Ba-kang-ish-naa-gai (Wailaki Language, Around It, My Heart Travels). “I will teach Wailaki language to the greater Wailaki community through the use of social media programs,” she told us, sharing information on a […]
Three-Time Dreamstarter Mentor and Dreamstarter Teacher Cheryl Tuttle Shares Her Story
Because of Cheryl Tuttle’s (Yurok Tribe) initiative three of her students in the Round Valley High School Native American Studies Program in Covelo, California, have gone on to become Running Strong For American Indian Youth® Dreamstarters with each receiving a $10,000 grant to realize their dream. Cheryl was the school’s Native American Studies Director in 2016 when she was […]
At Takini, Children Eat Smart
At the Takini School on the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation, students are guaranteed to receive a breakfast and lunch on school days, and a Running Strong Smart Sack full of groceries every Friday afternoon to take home and share with their family to tide them over the weekend. But now that Takini is closed due to the […]
Beat The Drum Update: Computers and Counting Supplies Are On Their Way!
The 2020 Census begins their count of every person living in America in less than a month, and Running Strong is preparing to make sure Native Americans will not be left out. Our petition to make sure every Native American living off and on reservations gets counted in the 2020 Census recently surpassed 15,000 signatures. And, thanks to our patrons who came together to […]
Dreamstarter Teacher Willamina Tailfeathers Inspires Love for Blackfeet Cultural Crafts
2019 Running Strong for American Indian Youth® Dreamstarter Teacher Willamina Tailfeathers is a second grade teacher at Browning Elementary in Browning, Montana “located on the beautiful Blackfeet Indian Reservation. “Our backyard is the ‘Backbone of the World,’ the gorgeous Rocky Mountains,” Willamina told us in her application for a $1,000 Dreamstarter Teacher grant for a […]
The Running Strong Dreamstarter Fellowship: An Introduction by Darius Sparks
When I first heard about Running Strong, I had just got out of basketball practice at my local college, the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota. When I was growing up it was hard for my mother to get me to basketball camps in the summer because she couldn’t afford it. I always […]
February E-News
February E-News! _ Running Strong
2016 Dreamstarter Blaze Burrows, Round Valley Indian Tribes, Covelo, California
Blaze, a 16-year-old sophomore in his Native American studies program, came to the mind of his Native American Studies program teacher in 2015 as the ideal Dreamstarter candidate with an already-impressive resume: President of the Round Valley High School Native American Club; a community Wailaki (a nearly-lost Native American language) language teacher; and a Bear […]
Road to Tokyo: Training for the Olympics
Qualifying for the Trials: A 5,000 Meter Race with Wilt Chamberlain Watching Coach Thompson and I are having a brief meeting. It is a sunny morning with a forecast of 72° by mid-afternoon. I have just finished an incredible workout. The golf course is closed today so I did what I call “tee to greens”: […]
Running Strong Continues Water Projects During Winter
Despite record low temperatures, frozen ground, and winter storms, our field staff on Pine Ridge managed to complete 10 water line projects throughout November, December, and January. Among these projects were the Anpo Wicahpe Pine Ridge Girls School and the home of Grace Rooks, who is a featured subject in the CNN GoThere mini documentary produced on […]
Overcoming Adversity: Billy Mills’ Journey to the 1964 Olympics
Coach Thompson and I are having a brief meeting. It is a sunny morning with a forecast of 72° by mid-afternoon. I have just finished an incredible workout. The golf course is closed today so I did what I call “tee to greens”: Sprinting from the tee box to alongside the putting green as fast […]
Road to Tokyo: Training Continues
A 4:05 Mile and a Warning Sign: “Billy, Are You Limping?” It is the 1st of March 1964 and I have been training at Camp Pendleton for a mere 10 days. Coach Thompson and I are having our first in depth goal-setting meeting. Coach asked me what my goals between now and the Olympic Games […]
Road to Tokyo: Training Continues
It is the 1st of March 1964 and I have been training at Camp Pendleton for a mere 10 days. Coach Thompson and I are having our first in depth goal-setting meeting. Coach asked me what my goals between now and the Olympic Games were. Somewhat surprised, I thought, “Did I just hear Coach say […]
Road to Tokyo: Arriving at Camp Pendleton
It is January 3, 1964 and I can’t get the St. Sylvester Midnight Run on December 31, 1963, (running out the old year and running in the new year) out of my mind. Running with a very bad cold, being tripped at the start of the race and losing a shoe was devastating to me. […]
Road to Tokyo: The End of 1963
Food Poisoning and a Lost Shoe: Billy Mills’ Turbulent End to 1963 The Contenders It is a very cold Saturday morning, November 30, 1963, as an international field of runners lined up for the start of the USA National AAU Cross Country Championship race in Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx, New York. There is an unusually […]
Road to Tokyo: Healing Broken Wings
Adapt and Overcome: Billy Mills’ Battle with Diabetes and Depression Accepting, Adapting and Overcoming It’s now the middle of October 1963. Last month, on September 10th, learning that I was hypoglycemic and borderline Type 2 Diabetic was much more challenging than I originally thought it would be. It still had me feeling unbalanced. I was […]
October E-News
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Road to Tokyo: Troubles Away from the Track
Settling in at Quantico: A Baby on the Way and a Fight for the Olympics Settling in at Quantico It’s the middle of September 1963 with my week full of deadlines and one very important doctor’s appointment. I am anxiously waiting for the changing colors of foliage that the fall season consistently brings. At this […]