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Public invited to Shakopee Mdewakanton tribe's CommUNITY Day open house Nov. 13

Prior Lake, Minn. – Join the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) on Saturday, Nov. 13, for a special free event celebrating Dakota peoples’ rich culture and history. Hosted from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Hoċokata Ṫi in Shakopee, this open house will give attendees a chance to explore the SMSC’s cultural center and learn more about the tribe through interactive learning sessions.

Sessions will include:

• Arts and crafts
• Dakota language
• Guided nature walks
• Indigenous food
• “Native Minnesota with Rebecca Crooks-Stratton” podcast show with live guest
• Opening/closing ceremonies
• Sovereignty and gaming history
• Storytelling
• Traditional games
   

Attendees will also be able to visit the SMSC’s public exhibit, “Mdewakanton: Dwellers of the Spirit Lake,” at no cost throughout the day. In addition, the tribe’s exhibit from this year’s Minnesota State Fair will be on display.

“The SMSC hosted our first CommUNITY Day event in 2019, and the reaction from attendees was fantastic,” said SMSC Chairman Keith Anderson. “We are excited to continue this tradition and share a piece of our history and culture with our neighbors.”

All are welcome to attend. RSVP for this free, family-friendly event at hocokatati.org/community-day.

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.