Our Supporters

Shakopee Treasurer Keith Anderson, Chairman Stanley Crooks and Vice Chairman Glynn Crooks are presented with the Fund's Day & Night Robe by Richard Williams.

Leading the Way

From potlatches to giveaways, American Indian tribes across the nation share a long tradition of giving. Indeed, traditional values of generosity and sharing have always been present throughout Indian Country, as exemplified by numerous Indian customs, ceremonies and celebrations that transcend reservation or tribe. Yet, with the rise of economic development opportunities for American Indians in recent years, there is a growing movement to develop formal programs of giving in Indian Country.

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community of Prior Lake, Minnesota has led this movement through its impressive charitable giving program. In just seven years, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community has donated over $56.5 million to tribes, Native American organizations, schools and others.

While these endeavors would rival many of the nation's top foundations, such generosity is even more impressive considering how far the tribe has had to travel on their path to economic self-sufficiency. As Shakopee Chairman Stanley Crooks explains, "We want to help others out because we understand what it is to struggle. We were on the other side of the fence for a long time. Having met the tribe's internal infrastructure needs and having provided tribal members with essential services, we have the good fortune to assist others."

Recently, this "assistance" took the form of a second historic grant to the American Indian College Fund in Denver, Colorado. The nation's largest provider of scholarships for American Indian students, the Fund has used Shakopee support, including the recent $900,000 grant, to establish its Sovereign Nations Scholarship Program and to provide immediate scholarship assistance to those students currently in need.

The Sovereign Nations Scholarship Program aims to establish a $10 million endowment, funded entirely by tribes and American Indian individuals. In the spirit of promoting self-sufficiency through education and "Indians helping Indians", the Fund will use support from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community as a challenge grant, inviting other tribes, Native-owned businesses and American Indian individuals to join a national fellowship supporting the goal of "a college education for all American Indians who dare to dream."

"We are humbled by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community's ability to reach beyond the boundaries of their community to support the hopes and dreams of Indian people everywhere," said Fund President Richard B. Williams. "We believe in changing the face of Indian education, one college graduate at a time, and are thankful that the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community shares this vision with us. From this gesture of selflessness from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, we feel strengthened to continue enlisting others to join this critical campaign."