Olympic golf medalist Billy Mills to speak

    Olympic Gold Medalist Billy Mills will be speaking during a Wabanaki Youth gathering with about 75 to 100 youngsters from June 27-30. The gathering will be held at Wilderness Pines Campground and is called “Back to Basics 2”.
    “During this time the youth will make matchless fires, debris huts, walking sticks, learn about native medicines, do survival training, have kayak/canoe races and much more,” said John Walker, Houlton Band of Maliseet youth program director.
    Mills will also be the guest speaker on Wednesday, June 29 at 6 p.m. at the Maliseet Gymnasium on the Foxcroft Road in Houlton.
    Mills is the only American to ever win the gold medal in the 10,000-meter run and he is one of two Native Americans who ever won an Olympic gold medal. Mills is a member of the Sioux Tribe and is a former U.S. Marine. He was inducted into the United States National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1976 and the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1984.
    Mills’ life was featured in the movie “Running Brave.”
    He is the spokesman for “Running Strong for American Indian Youth,” an organization helping support projects to benefit American Indian people, especially the youth.
    Other native instructors present at the Wabanaki Youth gathering will be Barry Dana, Hugga Dana, Stanley and John Neptune and others. Chief Commander will be present for both the opening and closing, as well as at the traditional meal on Tuesday evening.
    “It promises to be an excellent, enriching, and rewarding time for the youth from the Maliseets, Micmacs, Passamaquoddys and Penobscots,” said Walker.