Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Release Annual Report

Prior Lake, MN – The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community today released its annual Donation Report; the 20-page report details $28,722,550 in charitable giving made by the Community to Indian tribes, education and youth programs, and charitable organizations during fiscal year 2011, which ran from October 1, 2010, through September 30, 2011.

“As Dakota people, we have a long tradition of sharing with others so it is important for us to give back to the larger community. Before Indian gaming, many of us lived in poverty and struggled to survive. Times were hard. Now we are able to help others,” said SMSC Chairman Stanley R. Crooks. “The tribal membership through its actions authorized the charitable giving program.”

Over the past 16 years, the SMSC has donated more than $229.3 million to Indian Tribes, charitable organizations, schools, and Native American organizations.

The Donation Report details economic development and other grants to 20 tribal nations, totaling $16,042,848. Fourteen tribes each received a $1 million tribal grant. Of those, three are located in Minnesota with the rest in Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Montana, and North Dakota. Grants funded tribal infrastructure, economic development, energy assistance, a new casino, health facilities, telecommunications, a grocery store, and community and administrative centers.

“Here at the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, we are firm in our commitment to help others; this is ingrained in us as Dakota people from a young age. It is our tradition, our cultural responsibility, to help those who have not been as fortunate as we have been. We get no incentive or tax breaks because of our charitable giving. It is just the right thing to do,” wrote Chairman Crooks in the Donation Report.

The SMSC donated $2,805,745 to 40 Native American organizations for projects ranging from, housing, mental health and chemical dependency programs, to women’s shelters, food shelves, legal assistance, providing winter coats, medical research, public television, and capital construction.

Because Native people are mindful of the seven generations coming after them, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community gave out more than $1,383,079 in donations for education and youth programs. SMSC grants bought school supplies and technology equipment and paid for infrastructure, language projects, and library improvements.

A total of $1,246,454 was donated to 65 charitable organizations in fiscal year 2011, supporting such projects as increased rehabilitation services, a “No Needless Pain” initiative at Children’s Hospital of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and land protection through the Minnesota Land Trust.

To support and encourage traditional cultural values, the SMSC sponsored 53 cultural events including Pow Wows throughout Indian Country. The SMSC made donations to Pow Wows in Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, and elsewhere.

Each year during the holidays the Shakopee Mdewakanton Community makes donations for the holidays to aid those who are less fortunate. Focusing largely on local social service agencies, the SMSC donated to 43 organizations which provide food and gifts for families in need.

Along with a charitable giving program, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community sponsored a number of health care initiatives in 2011. The SMSC provides health, wellness, vision, hearing, and dental services to tribal members, employees, Native Americans from other tribes who live in Scott County, and their families.

The SMSC utilizes its financial resources from gaming and non-gaming enterprises to pay for all of the internal infrastructure of the Community, including but not limited to housing, roads, water, wastewater and sewer systems; emergency services; and essential services to its Tribal members in education, health, and welfare.