Canku Ota

(Many Paths)

An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America

May 1, 2004 - Issue 112

Tribal Grants to Fund Diabetes Project, Land Purchase, Economic Development

Prior Lake, Minnesota - The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community has announced three recent donations totaling more than a million dollars to Indian Tribes. A grant of $600,000 to the Upper Sioux Community in Granite Falls, Minnesota, and an additional $400,000 for fiscal year 2005 with be used for economic development. The Upper Sioux grant will fund an information technology, infrastructure development, public works, and tribal governance programmatic activities.

A donation of $200,000 went to the Yankton Sioux Tribe in South Dakota. Of that amount $10 0,000 will fund a diabetes program, which is an extension of a successful research project begun by the Indigenous Health Project of South Dakota State University and continued under tribal management. The program uses an internet-based tracking system for diabetics to monitor their daily diet, exercise, and other activities from their homes. The partial year grant will include four staff positions, supplies, and travel. The Yankton Sioux Tribe Housing Authority also was awarded a $100,000 grant for a youth activities program

A recent grant of $895,000 will fund a land purchase for the Bois Forte Band Of Ojibwe in northern Minnesota. The Bois Forte Band used the SMSC grant to purchase two parcels of land. The first grant draw was $165,000 in March 2003 to purchase Indian Island, located on Burnt Side Lake near Ely, Minnesota. The island contains about two dozen tribal graves. The island was being sold, and there was a danger of parts of it being developed. The second grant draw of $895,000 is for about 120 acres on Lake Vermillion that was exchanged with the State of Minnesota in a land swap for 55 lakeshore acres adjacent to the reservation. Surrounded by other tribal land, the land received in the swap will be used for much needed housing sites.

Already in Fiscal Year 2004, the SMSC has made these donations to Tribes: $579,377 to the Santee Sioux Tribe (Nebraska) for economic development and community improvement; $57,945 to the Turtle Mountain Tribe (North Dakota) for a nursing home on the reservation; $ 163,422 to the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe (South Dakota) for a Buffalo Interpretive Center and tribal farm; $1 million to the Lower Sioux Community (Minnesota) for a community center; $416,000 to the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe (North Dakota) to move homes onto the reservation from an Air Force Base; $500,000 to the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe (Minnesota) for a well drilling truck; $500,000 to the Red Lake Band of Chippewa (Minnesota) for St. Mary's School; $500,000 to the Grand Portage Band of Ojibwe (Minnesota) for economic development; $103,700 to the Oglala Sioux Tribe Woitancan Empowerment Zone (South Dakota) for propane trucks; $ 10,000 to the Oglala Sioux Tribe for propane tanks; $5,000 to the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate (South Dakota) for the elderly program; $337,939 to the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe (South Dakota) for the tribal school and Christmas gifts; and $8,400 to the Wind River Reservation for the Children and Family's Program.

In fiscal year 2003, the SMSC donated $7.87 million to charitable organizations and Indian Tribes. The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, a federally recognized Indian Tribe in Minnesota is the owner and operator of Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, Playworks, Dakotah! Sport and Fitness, and other enterprises on the reservation south of the Twin Cities.

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