Shakopee Tribe donates more than $5 million to Indian Country

Wednesday, December 5, 2018  

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community continues to share its good fortune with Indian Country.

The Minnesota-based tribe announced more than $5 million in donations on Tuesday. The money went to 11 fellow Indian nations and 13 nonprofits, benefiting a wide range of projects, from housing to health care to education.

“Our tribe is guided by the Dakota tradition of sharing our resources for the greater good,” Chairman Charles R. Vig said in a press release. “We’re proud to support meaningful projects like these that will benefit Native American communities here in Minnesota and across the country.”

The tribe is considered the largest single philanthropic benefactor in Indian Country, having donated more than $350 million over the last 25 years. In 2017 alone, nearly $18 million was provided for a wide range of programs and causes.

"A tradition of helping others has defined our people, the Mdewakanton Dakota, through times of hardship and through times of prosperity," the donation report stated.

This year's recipients follow:

Ain Dah Yung Center (MN) – $100,000 to sponsor four units of supportive housing in the Mino Oshki Ain Dah Yung

American Indian College Fund (CO) – $100,000 contribution to the Sovereign Nations Scholarship Endowment Fund

American Indian Graduate Center (NM) – $100,000 to start an endowment for Native American graduate students

A:Shiwi College and Career Readiness Center (NM) – $120,000 matching grant for construction of a modular building

Bemidji Community Arts Council (MN) – $25,000 grant for Miikanan Gallery renovations

Blackfeet Community College (MT) – $55,000 to upgrade simulators and computers

Minnesota Zoo Foundation (MN) – $30,000 grant for buffalo exhibit

Northwest Indian College (WA) – $200,000 contribution to its capital campaign

Ogema Area Firemen’s Association (MN) – $60,000 matching grant to purchase firefighting equipment

Ohkay Owingeh Housing Authority (NM) – $200,000 grant for restoring historical housing structures

Ponca Tribe of Nebraska (NE) – $150,000 grant for closing costs on land purchase

Red Lake Band of Chippewa (MN) – $200,000 grant for affordable housing, with an additional $300,000 pledged for fiscal year 2019

Santee Sioux Nation (NE) – $500,000 grant

Sisseton Wahpeton College (SD) – $200,000 grant for new fire sprinkler system for student dorms

Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota Language Institute (SD) – $100,000 grant for Dakota language curriculum development and documentation

Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian (Washington, D.C.) – $500,000 grant for the Native American Veterans Memorial, with an additional $500,000 pledged for fiscal year 2019

Solen Public School District (ND) – $180,000 matching grant for Cannonball Elementary School

Spirit Lake Tribe (ND) – $500,000 grant

Standing Rock Institute of Natural History (ND) – $75,000 for roof repair and equipment

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe (SD) – $300,000 for the Child Support Office Building and the Rock Creek District Cattle Operation

White Earth Reservation Housing Authority (MN) – $75,000 grant to purchase and install 20 new furnaces

White Earth Nation (MN) – $50,000 grant for the Mahnomen Head Start playground

Wind River Family & Community Health (WY) – $200,000 for health and dental equipment

Yankton Sioux Tribe (SD) – $100,000 grant for Yankton Sioux Housing Authority to rehabilitate houses