Newsroom

Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community cancels 2020 Wacipi

Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community cancels 2020 Wacipi

Annual Pow Wow to return next summer

Prior Lake, Minn. – The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) has announced the cancellation of this year’s SMSC Wacipi due to the current pandemic. The weekend-long celebration was originally scheduled to take place August 14-16, 2020.

The SMSC Wacipi (pronounced “wah-chee-pee”), or Pow Wow, is typically held each summer at the tribe’s Wacipi Grounds in Shakopee. It includes a contest Pow Wow, where dancers and drum groups compete for top honors in a variety of style categories, and hosts vendors of Native American crafts and foods.

“We have made the difficult decision to cancel this summer’s Wacipi,” said SMSC Chairman Keith Anderson. “Our annual cultural celebration is important to our Community and the thousands of people who attend each year, but the health and safety of our members, participants, employees and visitors will always take precedence. We look forward to celebrating at our 2021 event.”

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.