News northern “It’s the pursuit of the dream that’ll heal you,” his father said. “But I didn’t know if I was going to get to the tape first,” Mills said, smiling. That’s because a gold medal wasn’t the only victory Mills, 74, was seeking that day 48 years ago. He was also on a journey for something more important – healing a broken soul. He got both that day in Japan. Mills spoke about his journey at Northern State University in November during the university’s celebration of cultures. Mills, a member of the Oglala Sioux tribe who grew up on South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, was the special guest at NSU’s annual Wacipi (powwow). Mills, who has friends from cultures around the world, said the future of humankind is global unity through global diversity. Mills’ journey was not an easy one. He lost his mother at age 9 and remembers one day his dad told him, “You have broken wings.” Someday, his dad said, he would have the wings of an eagle – but he must get past the anger, hate and jealousy in his heart, and find his dream. “It’s the pursuit of the dream that’ll heal you,” his father said. Mills said he thought his father – who died when Mills was 12 – meant for him to be an athlete. He pursued athleticism northern today 9 but found he wasn’t good at sports such as boxing, basketball or rodeo. “Rodeo hurt,” he said, laughing. But he realized he found tranquility in running. He knew he had to have a dream to heal, and he set the goal of winning an Olympic gold medal in the 10,000 meter run. Every day, numerous times a day, he would visualize one moment in time – being on the lead runner’s shoulder, passing him and winning the race. That day, nearing the end of the race, competitorRonClarke of Australianudged him accidentally, and Mills stumbled into the third lane. Tunisia’s Mohamed Gammoudi took the opportunity to break between them. Mills said he decided to let them get 10-12 meters ahead of him, then he was going to make one final try. One of the lapped runners ahead of him moved over so he could pass. As Mills passed him, he looked over and saw, in the center of his shirt, an eagle. He remembered his dad’s words: wings of an eagle. He thought, “I can win.” And he did, blazing ahead of the other two in the final meters. Afterward, he went to find the runner who moved out of his way. When he did, he saw that there was no eagle on his shirt. “I’ve always said that moment was a gift to me,” he said. Olympic gold medalist Mills inspires at Wacipi, Culturefest In the final meters of his now famous 1964 Olympic race, Billy Mills knew he was going to win.
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