SMSC Gives $525,000 to Native American Education Initiatives in June
Prior Lake, Minn. – Reinforcing its commitment to education and Indian Country, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) has announced $525,000 in grants to Native American colleges and higher education funds.
These donations include:
$250,000 to United Tribes Technical College to support technology upgrades (Bismarck, North Dakota)
$150,000 to the Blackfeet Community College to support a nursing program expansion (Browning, Montana)
$100,000 to the American Indian College Fund to support the Sovereign Nations Scholarship Fund (Denver, Colorado)
$25,000 to the Oglala Lakota College to support its Lakota language immersion program (Kyle, South Dakota)
“Personal and professional success most often begins with a quality education,” said SMSC Chairman Charlie Vig. “Supporting educational opportunities for Native people today will help strengthen entire Native communities in the years ahead.”
The newly announced education grants bring the total to more than $6 million given by the SMSC to these four organizations in the past 20 years.
This is part of the SMSC’s larger focus on Native American education, which includes an endowed scholarship program at the University of Minnesota. Nearly 200 students from 48 different tribes have benefitted from that program since it originated in 2009. Other recent giving to higher education initiatives includes $250,000 to the Northwest Indian College Foundation (Bellingham, Washington).
About the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community
The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is a federally recognized, sovereign Indian tribe located southwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul. With a focus on being a good neighbor, good steward of the earth, and good employer, the SMSC is committed to charitable donations, community partnerships, a healthy environment, and a strong economy. Together the SMSC and the SMSC Gaming Enterprise (Mystic Lake Casino Hotel and Little Six Casino) are the largest employer in Scott County. Having donated more than $325 million since opening its Gaming Enterprise in the 1990s, as well as providing more than $500 million in economic development loans to other tribes, the SMSC is the largest philanthropic benefactor for Indian Country nationally and one of the largest charitable givers in Minnesota.