SMSC Provides First-of-Its-Kind Grant to Girls on the Run Minnesota for Native Girls Running Clubs
Prior Lake, Minn. — The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) today announced a partnership with Girls on the Run Minnesota to support the creation of Girls on the Run teams within the state’s Native American communities and provide adult coaches with culturally appropriate curriculum and training. Through IndigeFit Kids – a three year, $6 million philanthropic campaign to improve the physical fitness and mental wellness of Native youth in Minnesota – the SMSC is providing a $330,000 grant to Girls on the Run Minnesota to conduct outreach, volunteer training and direct support to cover all participant costs for up to 600 Native girls in grades 3-8 over the next three years.
This partnership will enable more Native girls to participate in Girls on the Run through local schools and Native nonprofits. Native youth will experience a culturally relevant curriculum aligned with their values and traditions, with teams led by supportive, culturally competent coaches. This is a first-of-its kind Native partnership for Girls on the Run Minnesota and among the largest grants the nonprofit has received. Watch a video of the announcement.
“Through IndigeFit Kids, we are working to close health disparities among young Native Americans in Minnesota by giving them more access and resources to lead active, healthy lives,” said SMSC Vice-Chairwoman Natasha Hacker, who co-chairs the IndigeFit Kids campaign along with SMSC Secretary/Treasurer Ashley Cornforth. “Girls on the Run inspires and empowers girls across the state, and its mission aligns perfectly with the goals of this campaign. We are proud to announce this partnership, which will benefit hundreds of Native girls statewide.”
The Girls on the Run program combines physical activity with intentional, research-based lessons that build social-emotional skills, confidence and connection. Over the course of an eight-week season, participants explore topics like goal setting, self-confidence, empathy, gratitude and teamwork — culminating in regional non-competitive, celebratory 5K events in the spring and fall.
“Rooted in the belief that every girl is strong, capable and worthy, we are proud to partner with Native communities across Minnesota to uplift youth through connection and movement,” said Kathleen Cannon, executive director of Girls on the Run Minnesota. “When girls participate in Girls on the Run, they don’t just have fun; they build confidence, and they experience positive physical and emotional health outcomes. With generous support from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, we’re centering Indigenous values of community, tradition and balance to help close health gaps and support the lifelong well-being of Native youth. We’re excited and grateful to be a partner of the IndigeFit Kids campaign.”
IndigeFit Kids is a large-scale effort to deploy resources and draw on expertise to improve the physical fitness and wellness of Native youth statewide. This campaign will fund a variety of projects and programs focused on physical fitness and wellness; commission research; raise public awareness; support efforts to Indigenize athletic programs; and more.
Previously announced strategic partners in the IndigeFit Kids campaign’s first activities include KABOOM!, the national nonprofit working to end playspace inequity; Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health, one of the nation’s leading academic health organizations focused on the health of Native communities; and the Minnesota Vikings, a region leader in promoting fitness and physical activity among youth.
###
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 dedicated to helping build strong, healthy communities. The tribe is a committed 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. For more information, visit ShakopeeDakota.org.
About IndigeFit Kids
IndigeFit Kids is a philanthropic campaign of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) dedicated to empowering Native youth through fitness and wellness. The SMSC has committed $6 million to improve the physical and mental wellness of Native youth in Minnesota. Launched in January 2025 as a three-year campaign, IndigeFit Kids funds a variety of projects and programs that support the physical fitness and wellness of Native youth; commissions research; raises awareness; supports efforts to Indigenize athletic programs; and more. For more information, visit IndigeFitKids.org.
About Girls on the Run Minnesota
Girls on the Run Minnesota is a council of Girls on the Run International, proudly serving girls across the state of Minnesota. Since its inception in 2012, the council has unlocked the power and potential of 35,000+ participants and made a lasting impact on the community through participant-led service projects. Each year, more than 5,000 participants joyfully cross the finish line at a Girls on the Run Minnesota 5K! For more information, visit gotrmn.org.