The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) has announced more than $5 million in donations to 11 tribes and 13 nonprofits in Minnesota and across the United States.

The SMSC grants will support a variety of projects, including the new Native American Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., a playground at a Northern Minnesota reservation, and the restoration of historical structures, among other projects.

Recipients include:

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


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

The SMSC has donated more than $350 million to organizations and causes in the past 25 years and is the single-largest philanthropic benefactor for Indian Country nationally.
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