The Meadows at Mystic Lake opens for the season with new additions and improvements
Prior Lake, Minn. — The Meadows at Mystic Lake, owned and operated by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC), is now open for the season with significant improvements at the award-winning golf course. The most unique feature is the course’s upgraded practice facility, which will open in phases through the summer as the sod is established. The “Mesa” practice area will feature four different practice greens for chipping, 30-60-yard pitch shots and bunker practice.
The other changes to the course build on The Meadows at Mystic Lake’s strong sequence of finishing holes. Improvements include:
Adding tee space, playing variety and challenges, and aesthetic improvements to the par-3 17th hole.
Enhanced construction technologies to ensure the stability of the timber wall along the approach area fairway and green.
A distinct new bridge from the 18th green to the clubhouse.
“Having a short-game area has become a focus for a lot of instructors and golfers, since that is the majority of shots people take in the game,” said Mike Luckraft, director of golf at The Meadows at Mystic Lake. “Our new practice facility offers more realistic scenarios for golfers. It’s a huge opportunity for junior golfers to learn about golf and for avid golfers to focus on hitting bunker shots, 30-60-yard pitch shots, and enjoy a beautiful opportunity to play and practice.”
The Meadows at Mystic Lake features pristine bent grass fairways, tees and greens, making it one of the most unique courses in the Twin Cities area. More than 20,000 rounds are played on the course each year.
“Surrounded by acres of wildflowers and prairie plants with water on 13 holes, The Meadows at Mystic Lake was already a high-caliber golf course, and the design and maintenance of our course are second to none,” said SMSC Chairman Keith Anderson. “We are excited to open for the season with these improvements that will make our course even better.”
The tribe worked with course architecture firm Paul Miller Design, based in Northfield, Minnesota, for the project.
Click here to download photos of The Meadows at Mystic Lake.
About the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community
The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) is a federally recognized, sovereign Dakota tribal government located southwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Following a Dakota tradition of generosity, the SMSC is one of the top philanthropists in Minnesota and is the largest contributor to other tribal governments and causes across the country. It is a strong community partner and a leader in protecting and restoring natural resources. The SMSC’s government, Gaming Enterprise, and various other enterprises are collectively the largest employer in Scott County and attract millions of visitors to the region.
Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community hosts academy to improve Native American history in schools
Prescribed burns planned for this spring
Prior Lake, Minn. – The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) is planning prescribed burns this spring in several locations on SMSC lands listed below. The SMSC conducts prescribed burns on SMSC lands and, upon request and through mutual aid agreements, in neighboring jurisdictions each spring and fall as an effective land management tool.
SMSC locations this spring*:
- Buffalo pasture located southeast of the junction of County Road 16 and County Road 83
- Prairie located northeast of the junction of County Road 79 and County Road 72
- Dakotah! Sport & Fitness boulevard prairies located off County Road 82
- Prairie located northeast of the junction of Dakotah Parkway and Wacipi Drive
- Prairie located to the northeast of the junction of County Road 83 and Tintaocanku
- Oak savanna located northeast of the junction of County Road 83 and County Road 82
- Prairie located north of the junction of County Road 83 and County Road 42
- Shakopee Memorial Park oak savanna located north of County Road 101
- Wacipi prairie located southwest of the junction of Dakotah Parkway and Wacipi Drive
- Wetland prairie located southeast of the junction of Dakotah Parkway and Sakpe Drive
* Subject to change depending on weather and site conditions
A prescribed burn is an intentionally lit, controlled fire used by land managers to replicate natural fire events. Before Europeans colonized this area, fires were sometimes started by lightning but many more times by Dakota and other Indigenous people. They burned areas for many reasons, but they were mostly used to clear land for agriculture; to improve grazing and forage for game species like bison; to reduce brush in woodlands, which helped with easier travel; and to boost plant and seed production.
Fire helps native plants in prairies, oak savannas, and some wetlands stay healthy and vigorous. These plants provide excellent habitat for species, such as the meadowlark, dickcissel, monarch butterfly and other wildlife. Fire is also an excellent tool to reduce weeds and other invasive woody species that outcompete native plants for resources.
All prescribed burns are designed to meet ecological objectives and are entirely dependent upon weather conditions, such as relative humidity, temperature, and wind speed and direction. Exact dates of the burns will be announced on the SMSC’s Twitter account.
The SMSC wildland fire program coordinates with neighboring entities, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and other state and federal agencies to lead and assist with prescribed burns within the region. During prescribed burns, trained burn crew members monitor weather conditions to protect air quality and road visibility to minimize potential impacts to neighboring communities.
About the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community
The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is a federally recognized, sovereign Dakota tribal government located southwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Following a Dakota tradition of generosity, the SMSC is one of the top philanthropists in Minnesota and is the largest contributor to other tribal governments and causes across the country. It is a strong community partner and a leader in protecting and restoring natural resources. The SMSC’s government, Gaming Enterprise and various other enterprises are collectively the largest employer in Scott County and attract millions of visitors to the region.
Annual Native Artist Spring Pop-Up Returns to Hoċokata Ṫi
It’s back! The annual Native Artist Spring Pop-Up Shop is returning to Hoċokata Ṫi for its third consecutive year. Stop by the cultural center’s main level on April 28-29 from 10am-4pm to shop for a variety of handmade goods from Native and local artisans. Items for sale will include clothing, beadwork, jewelry, and much more.
With Mother’s Day quickly approaching on May 14, the pop-up shop is a perfect opportunity to pick up thoughtful and unique gifts for your loved ones. The two-day event is free and open to the public.
While at Hoċokata Ṫi, guests can also check out the public exhibit Mdewakanton: Dwellers of the Spirit Lake to learn more about the Mdewakanton Dakota people and their history (regular admission rates apply). Visit hocokatati.org for more information.
Hoċokata Ṫi to Host Earth Day Event
The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is set to host its second annual Hoċokata Ṫi Earth Day Event on Friday, April 21 from 10am-4pm. The public is invited to this free event at Hoċokata Ṫi to learn about the SMSC’s earth-friendly initiatives, sample food from Mazopiya Natural Foods Market, and more.
A guided nature-themed exhibit tour and walk will take place at 11am and 2pm. Admission for the tour/walk is just $10, with a discounted rate of $7 for elders, Natives, and students. Advance registration is required, so reserve your spot today at hocokatati.org.
Invasive Spongy Moth Spotted in Scott County
The spongy moth, previously known as the gypsy moth, is a non-native, invasive leaf-eating insect that first arrived in the United Sates from Europe in 1869. Now spotted in Minnesota, these pests feed on more than 300 species of deciduous trees and shrubs. While the insect does not kill trees and shrubs directly, it does cause harmful stress by allowing the trees and shrubs to be more susceptible to other diseases. So far, Minnesota is in the early phases of fighting this infestation. The eastern portion of Minnesota has seen the introduction of the pest, while in the western half of the state they have still been undetected. The SMSC detected spongy moth near Pike Lake last summer in one of its detection traps.
In order to identify the species, it is helpful to know the four life cycle stages of the insect. The first stage is as an egg, which is a brown-sawdust color. The egg forms into a mass of up to 1,000 eggs per grouping. The mass is usually the size of a quarter and can be found attached to any outdoor surface—natural or man-made. Eggs are laid in late summer and early fall.
In the spring, the mass transforms into a caterpillar, moving into the next life cycle known as the larva stage, which can have a damaging impact on the environment. During this phase, the caterpillar climbs to the canopy of the tree and eats, and eats, and eats. The insect feeds mostly at night and then retreats to the ground during the day. Their large appetite causes the trees they inhabit to lose most of their leaves. Depending on the tree’s energy storage levels, leaves may or may not grow back that summer.
The caterpillar has unique features that help make it identifiable as a spongy moth. It has five pairs of blue dots and six pairs of red dots along the length of its back. It has long hairs that stick out in all directions going down the spine. The caterpillar eats until it is ready to transform into the pupa (cocoon) phase. It remains a pupa for nearly two weeks. From this stage, the moth completes the cycle by turning into the adult (winged moth). During this phase, the moth does not eat because they are focused on reproducing. Female spongy months are usually too heavy to fly, so they attract males by scent. Female spongy moths have a white cream coloring while males are tan and have fuzz growing along their bodies.
Spongy moths are considered pests, and when found should be eradicated. Humans have helped the spread of the pesky moth without knowing. It is important to be aware and know how to slow the spread. Without human intervention the pest usually travels about 13 miles a year over the landscape. To exterminate this species, it’s best to use a small amount of soapy water. Scrape off egg masses with putty knives or grab the caterpillar while wearing gloves. The soap helps suffocate the moths and stops the pest in their tracks.
For more information about the spongy moth visit the Minnesota Department of Agriculture at mda.state.mn.us/plants/pestmanagement/gmunit.
FREE Yard Waste Drop-Off Program Returns to the SMSC Organics Recycling Facility
It’s now time to trade in those shovels and plows for rakes and mowers. With spring cleaning in full swing, you may be wondering what to do with all of that yard waste that is left over from the fall. Luckily, the SMSC Organics Recycling Facility offers a free yard waste drop-off program to residents of Shakopee, Prior Lake, and Savage on Sundays in April and May (excluding April 9 and May 28), from 8am-2pm. Please be prepared to show your ID upon arrival.
Items to Drop Off:
- Grass clippings
- Leaves
- Mulch
- Mixed loads of yard waste/brush
- Straw/hay bales
- Plants
- Flowers
New this year—participants will receive a coupon for 10% off residential bulk compost and mulch products to be used only on days that the drop-off program takes place, making it the perfect time to stock up on all of your garden and landscape materials!
Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community announces grant to Three Rivers Park District for Native American education programming
Prior Lake, Minn. — The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC), through its Understand Native Minnesota campaign, today announced it is providing an $80,000 grant to the Three Rivers Park District to develop new Native American education programming at Lowry Nature Center. Located in the 3,719-acre Carver Park Reserve in Victoria, Minnesota, Lowry Nature Center hosts over 500 school groups and field trips annually. It is a prairie-style building where visitors can experience seasonal interpretive displays, observe birds and other wildlife, and explore connecting trails for free any day of the week.
With this grant funding, Three Rivers Park District will develop an interpretive trail highlighting Dakota perspectives on various natural resources found in Carver Park Reserve, including plant names and uses. This trail will enhance current Native American education materials for preK-12 school groups and general park visitors, serve as a destination and resource for park educators to improve Native education offerings and training, and bring awareness to and celebrate Native people who live in Minnesota.
Understand Native Minnesota is the SMSC’s philanthropic campaign to improve the narrative about Native Americans in Minnesota’s K-12 education system.
“We are excited to support the Three Rivers Park District’s efforts to incorporate Native American perspectives into its mainstream interpretative work,” said SMSC Secretary/Treasurer Rebecca Crooks-Stratton, chair of Understand Native Minnesota. “As part of our tribe’s efforts to enhance the Native narrative in Minnesota school systems, this interpretive trail will bring greater awareness of the Dakota people who occupied the lands in what is today Minnesota.”
Through consultation with the SMSC, the Three Rivers Park District project team will engage with a Dakota Advisory Group comprised of elders, cultural advisors and other knowledge-keepers, who can provide guidance on Dakota language and cultural perspectives on relationships with specific plants found along the trail. Three Rivers Park District interpretive staff and the Dakota Advisory Group will identify up to seven locations for interpretive signs along an existing trail. The locations will be selected to highlight certain plant species or landscape features to be interpreted through a traditional Dakota perspective.
Lowry Nature Center was the first public nature center to open in Minnesota and has been serving the community since 1969. One of four nature centers in Three Rivers Park District, Lowry hosted more than 43,000 visitors in 2022, and its staff taught 280 public programs and hosted 575 school field trips.
“Schools have come to Lowry for many years for field trips that enhance classroom learning about Dakota traditions,” said Allison Neaton, education supervisor at Lowry Nature Center. “We are excited to collaborate with the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and other Dakota people to accurately and authentically interpret Dakota perspectives on natural resources in Carver Park.”
The project will begin this month and is scheduled to open to the public in summer 2024.
To download a photo of the Lowry Nature Center, click here.
About the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community
The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) is a federally recognized, sovereign Dakota tribal government located southwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Following a Dakota tradition of generosity, the SMSC is one of the top philanthropists in Minnesota and is the largest contributor to other tribal governments and causes across the country. It is a strong community partner and a leader in protecting and restoring natural resources. The SMSC’s government, Gaming Enterprise, and various other enterprises are collectively the largest employer in Scott County and attract millions of visitors to the region.
About Understand Native Minnesota
Understand Native Minnesota is a philanthropic campaign launched by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) in October 2019 to improve the Native American narrative in Minnesota’s K-12 public schools. The SMSC has committed $5 million for grantmaking to support research, teaching resources, professional development and educational programming. The campaign engages stakeholders and the interested public through convenings, listening sessions, a podcast, social media channels, and other activities. For more information, visit UnderstandNativeMN.org.
About Three Rivers Park District
Three Rivers Park District is a natural resources-based park system that manages park reserves, regional parks, regional trails and special-use facilities in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. The Park District offers facilities for every season, including picnicking, swimming, creative play, boating, fishing, downhill skiing, snowboarding, golf, camping and sledding; extensive trails for hiking, biking, in-line skating, horseback riding, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, as well as program sites for nature, recreation, historic and farm education. Three Rivers Park District’s mission is to promote environmental stewardship through recreation and education in a natural resources-based park system. The Park District owns and operates more than 27,000 acres and serves more than 12.5 million visitors a year. For more information, visit ThreeRiversParks.org.
NBC GolfPass names The Meadows at Mystic Lake a top 25 golf course for off-course amenities
Hoċokata Ṫi Recognized as a Top Native Museum and Cultural Center
In the fall of 2020, Hoċokata Ṫi was selected by the Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums (ATALM) as a Top 10 Model Native Museum and Cultural Center. After a two-year delay due to the pandemic, Hoċokata Ṫi staff and Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) Members were finally able to accept the respected award on October 25 during the annual ATALM conference held at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California.
This recognition is given to organizations that serve as a model for ATALM’s Culture Builds Communities Project, which is a program that aims to help Native communities plan cultural facilities.
“The award is a testament to the commitment the Community has made to having a gathering space that allows us to preserve our culture and tell our story,” said Andy Vig, SMSC Community Member and Director of Hoċokata Ṫi. “It is a great honor for the SMSC to receive this award.”
The SMSC was also selected as a 2020 Award of Excellence winner by the American Association of State and Local History Leadership in History (AASLH) awards committee. The AASLH Leadership in History Awards is one of the nation’s most prestigious competitions for recognition of achievement in state and local history.
Hoċokata Ṫi features a 3,805-square-foot public exhibit, Mdewakanton: Dwellers of the Spirit Lake, which offers an engaging cultural experience that includes a collection of Dakota artifacts and educational displays that depict the rich history of the Mdewakanton Dakota people.
The Hoċokata Ṫi Gift Shop is also open to the public and features a variety of Native-made art, books, jewelry, beaded and quilled items, craft supplies, and home goods from more than 70 Native artists and Native-owned businesses.
Visit hocokatati.org for exhibit tickets and more information.