On September 11, 2019, 50 Running Strong Tour participants joined us for the 30th (and final) annual tour of Running Strong’s programs on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. During the four-day tour, participants had the opportunity to learn about Running Strong programs and the way we support families. Tour participants were also able to visit sites important to the Lakota people.

The first day of the tour started with an orientation and breakfast in Rapid City where the tour participants were able to meet one another as we set off on the tour. We spent the first morning in the incredible Badlands National Park and drove the picturesque Badlands loop, with stops to take photos along the way. In the afternoon, we had the chance to visit the top of the Crazy Horse monument and see the amazing sculpture of the Lakota leader up close. It was a memorable experience for all!

The next morning was spent at Fort Robinson State Park where Chief Crazy Horse was killed. We then traveled to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation where Running Strong Field Coordinator Dave Lone Elk hosted a delicious lunch for everyone at Tipi Waste Un Zanipi (Wellness Through a Good Home) field office and warehouse. After lunch, Dave and his father Ken, who manages Running Strong’s water program on Pine Ridge, shared details about the many in-kind programs that Tipi Waste manages, as well as talking about the Mni Wiconi Water Connection program that provides water connections for Pine Ridge families. We then spent the evening with the Oglala Sioux Tribe Partnership for Housing (OSTPH) and their director Pinky Clifford. Running Strong partners with OSTPH to make small scale home repairs for families in need on Pine Ridge.