Running Strong for American Indian Youth has announced their World Water Day commitment to connect 30 families on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation to the Oglala Sioux Rural Water Supply System by June 30, 2021 through their Mni Wiconi (Water Is Life) water connection program. Pine Ridge Indian Reservation residents can apply for and receive a water connection at no cost to the homeowner through the Running Strong Mni Wiconi program.
Running Strong was founded in 1986 by Olympic gold medalist Billy Mills (Oglala Lakota) and Gene Krizek with the initial mission of addressing the devastating lack of clean, running water on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Previously, Running Strong drilled water wells to satisfy this need, and moved to water connections in 2015 after the Oglala Sioux Rural Water Supply System lines were laid. Since 2015, Running Strong has completed over 200 water connections on the reservation, representing nearly 600 individuals who now have running water to their homes, and are committed to completing 30 more connections by June 30, 2021.
“It’s such a basic thing, and a lot of people can’t believe how many in Indian Country don’t even have running water,” said Ken Lone Elk (Oglala Lakota), Running Strong Water Coordinator. “But when you dig for a connection and hook up a family with running water for a first time, you’re creating hope. You’re changing their lives.”
Pine Ridge Indian Reservation has the lowest life expectancy in North America, and the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic escalated the need for fresh water from basic human right to a matter of public safety. For some residents, who live as close to 100 feet of the service line, the costs to run a line to their home are out of reach, or they have been on the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Indian Health Services’ waitlists for years. Running Strong works around the year to dig, tap, and connect water lines to homes that these groups may not be able to work with, providing clean water access to many for the first time in years, if not their life.
“To me, the need is so big, and the resources are so small,” said Sam O’Rourke (Oglala Lakota), owner of Badlands Enterprises and Running Strong water project contractor. “That’s one of our missions, to find those people and help those people the best we can.”
In early 2020, CNN visited the Running Strong field office to interview Lone Elk about the water connection program. They also spoke with two recipients of Running Strong water projects; Mark Cottier, father of three, and Grace Rooks, who cares for her grandson who suffers from eczema and requires extra water to treat his condition. View the video here: https://vimeo.com/443166237
Running Strong for American Indian Youth works to help Native American communities meet their immediate and long-term survival needs to raise happy, healthy American Indian Youth. To learn more about our programs visit the Running Strong site at www.indianyouth.org or contact hanna@indianyouth.org.
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