SMSC Departments and Administration
The government for the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) includes a variety of departments established to meet the needs of the Community. As a sovereign nation, the SMSC is responsible for the welfare and amenities of its people. Our departments handle everything from housing, infrastructure, and public works, to family wellness services and safety.
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Our Departments
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Charitable Giving
×DEPARTMENTCharitable Giving
Rooted in the tradition of wόokiya (generosity and helping), the SMSC is committed to supporting Indian Country and local communities through donations, grants, and in-kind contributions, all of which are overseen and coordinated by its Charitable Giving Department. With over $400 million donated to other tribes, organizations, and causes, $500 million in economic development loans to other tribes, and millions more invested in regional governments and infrastructure, the SMSC is a local leader in helping others build strong, healthy communities.
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Cultural Resources
×DEPARTMENTCultural Resources
The Cultural Resources Department creates cultural education programming for tribal members and offers community outreach programming and educational opportunities for the public. With an in-house team of curators and archivists, it also manages the storage, care, exhibition, and research of items that represent many cultures over the span of thousands of years. Also within the department is the Dak̇ota Iapi Ṫípi, a team of specialists dedicated to growing the Dakota language within the SMSC and beyond. The department’s cultural interpreters connect visitors to the tribe’s cultural center—Hoċokata Ṫi—to Dakota history and lifeways through tours of the Mdewakanton: Dwellers of the Spirit Lake public exhibit. Cultural Resources also oversees Tribal Historic Preservation Officer functions and assists in preservation efforts of cultural traditions and historic sites (including advising federal, state, and local agencies) that are significant to the Mdewakanton Dakota people.
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Education
×DEPARTMENTEducation
Serving SMSC Members from pre-kindergarten through college and post-secondary pursuits, the Education Department offers a wide range of services tailored to support academic success and overall well-being. Our team includes licensed teachers, experienced tutors, and passionate counselors, all working together to provide a holistic approach to education, from after-school programming and post-secondary counseling to hands-on learning experiences and special education support.
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Family and Children Services
×DEPARTMENTFamily and Children Services
The Family and Children Services Department supports the Native American family as the foundation of the community by offering tailored, high-quality services that preserve family stability. The department provides case management, advocacy in tribal and county courts, crisis intervention, supervised visitation, and parenting education, while also coordinating emergency services like child care and food vouchers.
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Finance
×DEPARTMENTFinance
The Finance Department oversees the financial planning of the Community’s enterprises and departments, helping the SMSC’s tribal government meet the needs of tribal members. It also manages millions of dollars in annual donations and grants that are awarded to organizations and causes across Minnesota and Indian Country.
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Health and Wellness
×DEPARTMENTHealth and Wellness
As one of the SMSC’s largest departments, the Health and Wellness Department offers a variety of clinics and services for SMSC Members and team members to access the health care they need in a close, convenient location. These services include primary care, urgent care, school and sports physicals, management of chronic conditions, full lab services, immunizations, occupational health, chiropractic, physical therapy, nutrition education, disease prevention, dental care, optometry, hearing screenings, mental health services, an on-site pharmacy, and more. The Health and Wellness Department also works with local and national organizations to provide public health services, medical equipment, blood donation opportunities, and more within the Community, local area, and tribal nations.
Tribal Public Health is comprised of health and public safety professionals who collectively monitor potential health threats and provide guidance and preventive measures to help protect the SMSC and its members, employees, and guests. The team also leads educational health campaigns, hosts pop-up clinics, and works to improve accessibility and communication on all health-related matters in the Community.
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Human Resources
×DEPARTMENTHuman Resources
The Human Resources team provides support to the thousands of team members employed by the SMSC. In addition to helping departments reach their operational goal and objectives, the department supports team members at all levels within the organization and offers trainings, workshops, resources, and support to help staff build their competencies and skills. The team also oversees talent acquisition, compensation, benefits, payroll, and more, for both the Gaming Enterprise and Tribal Operations departments and enterprises.
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Information Technology
×DEPARTMENTInformation Technology
As a shared service supporting both Tribal Operations and the Gaming Enterprise, the Information Technology (IT) Department is responsible for managing the SMSC's infrastructure, software applications, and technology solutions. The IT Department provides responsive, on-demand support to team members while ensuring the security and integrity of the SMSC's networks and applications. The team of IT technologists and solutions architects collaborates with business units to achieve their goals by delivering innovative solutions, improving operational efficiency, and exploring emerging technologies in the most secure and effective way.
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Land and Building Services
×DEPARTMENTLand and Building Services
The Land and Building Services Department manages residential and commercial development within the SMSC through building and site permits, contractor reviews, surveying, inspections, land assignment applications and relinquishments, and planning assistance for building projects.
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Legal
×DEPARTMENTLegal
The Legal Department is responsible for protecting the SMSC and its interests by overseeing the tribe’s legal affairs, providing legal analysis, representation, support, and advice to the Business Council and all tribal government departments and enterprises. The team also reviews and negotiates contracts on behalf of the tribe and assists with drafting ordinances and resolutions for the General Council.
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Marketing and Communications
×DEPARTMENTMarketing and Communications
The Marketing Department provides communication and marketing tools for Community Members, most SMSC enterprises and departments, and the public. This team is responsible for dispensing Community news, creating and distributing enterprise advertisements, updating SMSC team member communication platforms, maintaining websites, planning and publicizing special events, and more.
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Mdewakanton Public Safety
×DEPARTMENTMdewakanton Public Safety
Mdewakanton Public Safety serves the SMSC and surrounding communities in the form of Fire and Emergency Services and Conservation and Enforcement. As a sovereign nation, the SMSC maintains a full-time, professional fire and ambulance department—serving the SMSC staff, and guests, as well as coordinating with neighboring governments, including the cities of Shakopee and Prior Lake. Meanwhile, Conservation and Enforcement upholds conservation laws—both state and tribal—on SMSC lands, educates people about these laws, and cites violators.
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Natural Resources
×DEPARTMENTNatural Resources
The Natural Resources Department helps fulfill the tribe's commitment to environmental stewardship. The department regulates and protects SMSC lands and waterways by restoring and protecting ecosystems within the community, monitoring and maintaining local water quality in the SMSC’s lakes and streams, conducting educational outreach within the SMSC and beyond, landscaping with native plants, and much more.
The Natural Resources Department plays an integral role in furthering the SMSC’s mission to be a good steward of the earth and a leader in environmental sustainability.
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Property Services
×DEPARTMENTProperty Services
The Property Services Department operates with a mission to ensure the SMSC offers a safe and welcoming environment for SMSC Members, team members, and guests. Formed in the early 1990s to address the SMSC’s growing outdoor maintenance needs, Property Services oversees winter weather operations across the SMSC while also providing event setup, parking planning, and traffic control for major events throughout the year. The department also includes dedicated Horticulture and Laundry and Dry Cleaning teams.
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Public Works
×DEPARTMENTPublic Works
The Public Works Department maintains the SMSC’s infrastructure, including streets, storm and sanitary sewers, bridges, sidewalks and walking paths, hydrants, and water reuses/wastewater treatment. Formed in the early 1990s, the department has since expanded and now oversees the Community’s parks, walking trails, tree moving and removal, animal control, and more. Public Works also includes the Environmental Services Department, which is responsible for the safety and cleanliness of the Community’s facilities.
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Surveillance and Security
×DEPARTMENTSurveillance and Security
The SMSC surveillance and security departments strive to create a safe and secure environment for SMSC members, team members, and visitors. Since the beginning of the SMSC Gaming Enterprise, both departments have focused on asset protection, maintaining a secure environment, and fostering a positive experience for all who visit the Community. The teams support the SMSC’s departments, enterprises, events, and initiatives while also collaborating with external agencies and organizations. Both departments work hand in hand to focus on innovative safety and security measures across the SMSC.
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Tribal Records
×DEPARTMENTTribal Records
The Tribal Records Department works closely with the SMSC’s enterprises and departments to organize and manage their important business information. The team collaborates with the SMSC’s departments to develop and apply best practices to improve information management, ensuring records are kept as needed for business and legal reasons before being archived or discarded.
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Wozupi Tribal Gardens
×DEPARTMENTWozupi Tribal Gardens
Wozupi Tribal Gardens is an organic farm dedicated to cultivating food in a manner that nourishes the earth, supports the community, and enhances the well-being of individuals. Since its opening in 2010, Wozupi—which means “garden” in the Dakota language—has offered a diverse selection of seasonal vegetables, fruits, chickens, and pasture-raised eggs. The orchard includes apple trees, native foods, a native plant nursery, and small gardens designed for seed-saving and pollinator habitats.
CAREERS
Grow your career at the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC)
A wide variety of opportunities are available across our tribal government and enterprises. SMSC Team Members receive competitive pay, outstanding benefits, and growth opportunities.