A Pine Ridge Family Garden

Running StrongBilly Mills, National Spokesperson

Maggie W. and her husband, Mark, care for their 14 grandchildren in the Cheyenne Creek community just north of Pine Ridge village. Along with five other community members, Maggie and Mark tended a small garden located behind their house last summer thanks to Running Strong’s Master Gardner, Tom Cook, and the Slim Buttes Agricultural Program. This season they are working with Tom to expand their garden and feed their grandchildren with even more fresh, organically grown fruits and vegetables. The grandchildren are so excited to help plant their garden and are curious about what the crops will look and taste like when they are ready for

harvesting!

The 2012 gardening season is off to a great start. The Slim Buttes greenhouse crew of six began planting in March

thanks to an early spring. Thanks to a Running Strong donor, we were able to repair our fleet of tractors and get them ready for the field to help many families like Maggie and Mark’s. And Tom Cook tells us, “the phone’s been ringing off the hook with people wanting gardens!”

Spring 2012

Running Strong • Spring 2012

Tom Cook’s Tips for a Generous HarvestHere on the reservation, most vegetables that need 90 or more growing days should be started in a greenhouse. Tomatoes, peppers, broccoli and cabbage need the lead time a greenhouse provides. Cold temperature, a steady

schedule of watering, and thinning the seedlings are requirements for success. But most important of all is to use “live” potting soil. We like blending biodynamic practices with Lakota understandings because in both, the plants are addressed as relatives. “We are all related,” is the Lakota thought and prayer.

There are many challenges to gardening. Insects, grasshoppers, wildlife and extreme weather events like we have often on the reservation stress the plants. Many factors have to fall into place for you to be a successful gardener, but along with the health benefits of being in your garden come lessons in perseverance. And the fulfillment is the fresh, healthy food resulting from it all, for consuming, sharing, and even making a little money from local sales.

A day in their garden for Maggie and her grandchild.

INSIDE:v Menominee Smart Sacksv New Books for Kids

v Join the Dream Catcher Societyv Fourth Graders Learn American

Indian Historyv Billy Mills and the NMAIv Join Team Running Strongv Can Wigmunke, The Rainbow Treev Running Strong’s 2012 Tour

If you didn’t get your Running Strong Garden Vegetable Guide, check the enclosed reply form to request yours today!

Tom Cook shares his gardening knowledge.

Christian Relief Services connects the resources of Americans with grassroots charitable groups, churches and human service agencies to empower local volunteers to help those in need in their own communities.

A newsletter of Christian Relief Services and its project, Running Strong for American Indian Youth®

Page 2 Running Strong • Spring 2012

www.indianyouth.org

Running Strong is Marching into Spring with

New Books for Kids! Running Strong teamed up with the FirstBook National Book Bank to send thousands of new books to children living on Indian reservations across the country. This partnership provides American Indian children living in remote communities the opportunity to not only read new books, but to own their books.

“Thank you Running Strong. The Smart Sacks program that you have helped to offer our kids is our greatest highlight in our district,” the Menominee Indian School District Superintendent told Running Strong. Since more than 98% of the students qualify for free or reduced breakfast and lunch programs, the need for good, nutritional food seven days a week is essential. School days are covered, and now thanks to your

help the weekends are covered too with food so kids don’t go hungry. Smart sacks include wholesome foods like milk, sunflower seeds, chicken noodle soup, beef stew, fruit and grain bars, oatmeal, apples and raisins!

Friendship and FoodOur community-run food distribution programs on Indian Reservations in South Dakota and Montana provide Friendship Boxes of Food. Each box contains 25 pounds of food and can feed the family for a week! Easter’s food box included an 8lb juicy ham with frozen vegetables, chicken strips, pasta, sauces, bread, jelly beans and more!

“My grandson is so excited about his healthy snacks. ‘Grandma,

come and look at what I have,’ he says showing me his smart sack,

‘but it’s just for us young kids grandma.’”

Nannette, grandmother of a second grade student

“I applaud the school district and Running Strong for taking the initiative to provide nutritious food

for our kids. I believe it relieves stress on our children and the children feel empowered by

having these foods.” Susan, parent of a first grade student

Join the Dream Catcher Society Today! Help provide consistent and reliable support for your favorite programs. Join our Dream Catcher Society by signing up for monthly giving! All new members receive a handmade dream catcher! Check your reply card to join today.

Story of the Dream CatcherDream Catchers are an important part of many Native American Tribes’ traditions. Bad dreams struggle in the Dream Catcher’s web until the sun’s rays burn them away in the morning. Only good dreams find their way to the web’s center, where they pass through the hole bringing pleasant dreams to the sleeping mind.

New books for eager readers!

Children help pack the sacks for all!

Menominee’s Smart Sack Program is a Huge Success

Page 3Running Strong • Spring 2012

www.indianyouth.org

Fourth Graders Learn American Indian History, Take Action

Running Strong board member and National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) curator, Emil Her Many Horses, met with Wakefield Country Day fourth graders during their January field trip to the museum. The students, who are learning about American Indian history and culture, have taken on a class project to collect Labels for Education for elementary schools serving children on the Crow Indian Reservation in Montana. Fourth grader Emma said the highlight of the visit was seeing the art and new totem pole. Field trip chaperone and Running Strong supporter, Brandi Day, said that Wakefield Country Day of Flint Hill, VA has a history of incorporating service into the curriculum. “We were able to enhance our trip to NMAI and the students’ study of American Indians by participating in this service project and learning more about Indian culture and needs today,” said Brandi. Teacher Mrs. Chatelain reports that the students are enthusiastic about the project and eager to help other children through Running Strong.

Running Strong invites advocates of any age to stand with us for American Indian youth. Request a Running Strong activism kit today by checking the box on the enclosed reply form.

Billy Mills and the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI)

This summer NMAI will host an exhibition on Native athletes called Best in the World: Native Athletes in the Olympics, from May 24–September 4, 2012. This historic exhibit will mark the first time that Olympic medals won by Jim Thorpe, Billy Mills and other Native Olympians are displayed together. To learn more and plan a visit, go to www.indianyouth.org.

Team Running Strong is Filling up, but There’s Still Time to Join!Have you or anyone you know ever wanted to participate in a marathon and make a difference? You can on Billy Mills’ charity team, Team Running Strong! For the ninth year in a row, Team Running Strong will participate in the Marine Corps Marathon™ in Washington, DC to raise funds and awareness for American Indian youth in need.Secure your spot today by visiting our website at www.indianyouth.org or writing to marathon@indianyouth.org for more information. Please help us spread the word and tell the runners (and walkers!) in your life about Team Running Strong.

Billy holds the pair of borrowed shoes he wore to win the 10,000 m.

Emil Her Many Horses speaks to the class.

Team Running Strong 2011.

And speaking of celebrations, Billy and his wife Pat celebrated their 50th anniversary this year! We’d also like to wish Billy a very happy 74th birthday on June 30. We are collecting messages from friends and supporters like you to send to him on his special day, so be sure and visit our website at www.indianyouth.org to sign Billy’s birthday card. We’ll send Billy all your messages as a special birthday surprise. and feature some of your messages on our website!

Page 4 Running Strong • Spring 2012

www.indianyouth.org

“Can Wigmunke,” the Rainbow TreeTraditionally Native American youth were taught by the entire village, often in natural settings. Can Wigmunke (Lakota for the Rainbow Tree) has chosen to adopt this traditional model of working with and teaching the youth on Pine Ridge about gardening. Their community gardens have become experiential classrooms where kids learn about sustainable methods for growing their own food. The youth even take on service projects in their communities, like planting 273 trees across the reservation and

transforming vacant lots into vibrant community botanical gardens.

Greenhouses are critical in South Dakota, where the growing season is three months at best. Thanks to our supporters, Running Strong was able to provide a greenhouse for the project’s base farm which allowed them to start planting early in March. They plan to extend their growing season into October!

Running Strong for American Indian Youth®A Project of Christian Relief ServicesP.O. Box 52144Phoenix, AZ 85072-9612

Community gardens are an active classroom for Native kids.

Last Year’s Tour Sold Out! Reserve Your Running Strong Tour Spot Today!Visit the Pine Ridge and Cheyenne River Sioux Reservations with Running Strong! Running Strong’s 23rd Annual Reservations Tour is taking place September 9–15, 2012 and features many exciting stops and speakers.

For one incredible week, join the Running Strong staff and volunteers as we visit the programs you care about. See with your own eyes the daily miracles that you make possible. Together we will travel in comfort with a guide through unique parts of the country rarely visited and get to understand why your support matters. While on the tour you can visit our water wells, gardens, food programs, meet Billy Mills, enjoy a Lakota cultural dance exhibition and meet the American Indian children that you help every day.

But hurry, the tour fills up quickly. Last year’s tour sold out! Check off the tour information box on the enclosed reply form. You can also go to www.indianyouth.org to register and pay online.

Our 2011 Tour Group at Ft. Robinson, Nebraska.

Please share this newsletter with a friend or recycle it.

CFC #11876

Make a Note!Our new mailing address for donations is:

Running Strong for American

Indian Youth

PO Box 52144

Phoenix, AZ 85072-9612

“It’s so wonderful to have fresh vegetables and the native wild fruits available right here. It’s great to hear that there’s a place to go now to

get plants and veggies right here on the Rez! Who’d have thought? A greenhouse and a market just a few miles from my home.”

- Grandma Sharlene

Rainbow Tree’s new 30 x 50 greenhouse… thanks to you!

We still have our address at 213 N. 2nd St, Suite D, PO Box 670, Raton, New Mexico 87740, (575) 445-2096, where you can call, write or visit. And Billy loves the letters!