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Editorial: Shakopee Tribe contributes $5M for health initiative






Left to right: First Nations Development Institute President Michael Roberts; SMSC Secretary/Treasurer Lori Watso; Dean Brian Buhr, University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences; SMSC Vice-Chairman Keith Anderson; Notah Begay III Foundation Founder Notah Begay; Notah Begay III Foundation Executive Director Justin Huenemann. Photo from SMSC

Minnesota praises the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community for contributing $5 million to the Seeds of Native Health, a campaign to promote nutrition in Indian Country:
When it comes to population health, the data points on American Indians are bleak. Their life expectancy is 4.2 years lower than the U.S. average, according to the federal Indian Health Service. Heart disease is a leading cause of death. They also are more likely to die of diseases such as Type 2 diabetes or complications from it.

These serious medical conditions have a common risk factor — obesity. Not surprisingly, Indians are also more likely to become obese than are other ethnic groups in the United States. With a 2014 Minnesota Department of Health report linking health concerns in Indians in part to the loss of traditional tribal foods, a population health initiative focusing on nutrition is sorely needed.


YouTube: Seeds of Native Health Announcement
That’s why a new philanthropic push by Minnesota’s Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is so critical for the future of tribal communities in Minnesota and across the nation. Minnesota is one of 14 states that is home to more than 100,000 Native Americans.

This week, the southern metro Mdewakanton Sioux Community, which operates two lucrative Minnesota casinos, announced that it is endowing a new national campaign “to improve Native American nutrition.’’ A $5 million contribution from the tribe will launch the Seeds of Native Health initiative to “promote best practices, expand education and encourage the development of new solutions.’’

Get the Story:
Editorial: Tribe's contribution is a nutrition boost for American Indians (The Minneapolis Star Tribune 3/27)

Also Today:
Shakopee Mdewakanton to tackle Indian health disparities (The Minneapolis Star Tribune 3/25)

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