To the Shakopee Mdewakanton, being a good neighbor is an extension of the cultural tradition of being a good relative. The Dakota people believe that all living beings are relatives and should be treated not only with dignity and respect, but also helped in their day-to-day lives. The common expression Mitakuye Owasin, "We Are All Related," is often used to end prayers and ceremonies. The SMSC is grateful for the opportunity to not only provide significant financial assistance to other Tribes and charitable organizations through a charitable giving program but also to contribute to its neighbors in many other ways, some of which are highlighted below.

Inter-Governmental Agreements
To improve life for all area residents, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, the City of Prior Lake, Shakopee, and Scott County governments have worked cooperatively on several projects over the years. The SMSC and the City of Prior Lake signed a four-year agreement in December 2005 for police and other services provided by the City to the Tribe in the amount of $1.4 million. As part of the agreement, the SMSC will continue to fund a City of Prior Lake police officer position housed at the SMSC Community Center. Since 1997 this police liaison officer has served residents of both the SMSC and the City of Prior Lake.

The SMSC and the City of Prior Lake have worked together on numerous projects including the installation of warning sirens. The SMSC has also donated $25,000 for a permanent skate park and $15,000 for new ballistic vests with rifle panels and ballistic helmets for the Tri-City Special Response Team. The SMSC has funded other joint local projects: $2.5 million to Scott County for the County Roads 42 and 83 intersection project and $250,000 for the installation of a new traffic signal on County Road 83 at Dakotah Parkway. The SMSC also has agreements with local governments on groundwater policy, cultural resources sites, Wellhead protection, and other matters of mutual concern.

The SMSC makes voluntary annual payments to cover the cost of services provided by local jurisdictions. Over the last ten years the SMSC has made total inter-governmental payments of $14.4 million to Scott County and other jurisdictions, with $2,419,580 paid in 2006.

Joint Powers Agreement for SCALE
The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is proud to be an active member of the Scott County Association for Leadership and Efficiency (SCALE). Representatives from 28 local governments including the SMSC, Scott County, local townships, school districts, and cities in Scott County make up SCALE, which meets monthly to discuss ways to collaborate and share resources and services. The primary purpose of the Association is to encourage greater efficiencies and leadership in public service through enhanced communication, collaboration of services, and sharing of resources.

One SCALE project is a Joint Training Facility for police and fire departments. The SMSC has participated in the planning for this facility since 2002 and was the first to donate money for funding a feasibility study of this project. The facility will provide a centralized, permanent location for local police, fire, and Emergency Medical Services officers to train. The proposed multi-level facility will contain various training scenarios, including rescue and fire operations in a warehouse, an apartment, offices, a restaurant, and a single-family dwelling. Outside the building will be training areas for mock car accidents, vehicle rollover accidents, and hazardous material spills. There will also be an outdoor gun range, classrooms, and offices.

CR82 Project Moving Forward as SMSC Agrees to Cost-Sharing Deal
Representatives of the City of Prior Lake, Scott County and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community agreed to the terms of a cost-sharing agreement that will allow reconstruction of County Road 82. This road is rapidly becoming one of the most traveled roads in all of Scott County. In fact, the busiest stretch of the road - from County Road 21 west to County Road 83 - is expected to experience a doubling in its traffic load over the next 25 years, according to a recent Scott County traffic study. That study projected the number of daily trips to climb to 20,500 by the year 2030. Today, that same stretch of road supports about 9,800 daily trips. As part of the reconstruction, CR 82 will expand from two lanes to four from CR 21 to CR 17 and fully controlled intersections will exist at CR 21 and CR 83. Under the terms of the agreement, this $17 million project involves cost commitments from Scott County, the City of Prior Lake, and the SMSC. Scott County will pay $12.4 million. The City of Prior Lake's share is $3.34 million, which includes 100 percent of the sewer and water extension work.

While the SMSC is not legally required to pay for improvements to the system of roads and highways that lead to its reservation, it agreed to support the project and help pave the way for this mutually beneficial project to proceed as planned in 2006. For its part, the SMSC committed $1.4 million along with approximately eleven acres of land (valued at approximately $600,000) needed for right-of-way purposes. Five of those acres have been turned over permanently with the remainder as a temporary construction easement. "This is another example of how the SMSC works with other governments to improve life for Scott County residents. Good relationships can build roads," said SMSC Tribal Chairman Stanley R. Crooks. "As a sovereign nation, the SMSC provides infrastructure in the form of roads, water and sewer, fire protection and other services. If we can't provide them, then it is our practice to negotiate with local governments for additional services."

"This just reaffirms the value of the partnerships we have with the county and the SMSC," said Prior Lake Mayor Jack Haugen. "I am excited to see this project moving forward. This is a critical roadway that impacts traffic flow to neighborhoods and various SMSC enterprises." Construction began in August 2006 and will occur in multiple phases and could take up to two years to complete.

SMSC Public Works and City of Prior Lake Share Equipment
The SMSC has a Public Works Department which is responsible for snow plowing, sewer maintenance, water treatment and services, street sweeping, and other services for Community lands. The SMSC and the City of Prior Lake have a unique agreement to share equipment for improving roads as part of the asphalt maintenance programs for streets and pavements. Sewer equipment is also shared. Both entities have purchased equipment and share their use as needed. The two departments have also interconnected their water mains for use during an emergency.

SMSC and City of Prior Lake Sponsor First Lakefront Days Triathlon
Along with the City of Prior Lake, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community co-sponsored the first ever Dakotah! Sport and Fitness Lakefront Days Triathlon. The event was held Sunday, August 6, 2006, as part of a week of fun that included activities, competitions, shows, food, music, and much more during Prior Lake's annual Lakefront Days celebration. The triathlon, which was open to the general public, drew 174 participants from surrounding areas.

"The event was extremely successful thanks in large part to all of the volunteers that took time out of their Sunday morning to come help out. This was a great first time event that we hope to continue hosting each year," said Dakotah! Sport and Fitness Director Tad Dunsworth who came up with the idea for the event and spearheaded it coming to reality.

The triathlon required the cooperation of a number of entities including the Prior Lake Chamber of Commerce, the Prior Lake Police Department, the Scott County Sheriff's Department, Mdewakanton Emergency Services, the Prior Lake Fire Department, and 73 volunteers along the routes.

Cultural Presentations
To honor our ancestors and continue our Dakota traditions, the Community engages in a variety of cultural activities in addition to our annual Wacipi (Pow Wow) and dance exhibition at the Mall of America. A tribal drum group, comprised primarily of youth, sang at the Wacipi in 2006 for the first time. The drum group continues to meet weekly to learn new songs and improve their skills.

The Community works to preserve cultural sites, including Shakopee Memorial Park, which contains Mdewakanton burial mounds. Children and adults are learning the Dakota Language, song, and dance. Each year Community youth celebrate Dakota heritage with Young Native Pride, a free event open to the public, which celebrates Native American culture, traditions, and spirituality through song and dance. Students and their family members and staff work toward the performance for months making outfits, doing beadwork, sewing designs, cutting ribbon, making moccasins, and practicing dance styles.

A cultural center is planned to display many of the thousands of items in the Community archival collection. In the meantime, cultural galleries which display Dakota pieces in the SMSC Community Center and Mystic Lake Casino Hotel rotate their displays several times a year.

Oicimani Media Center
The Community's library has over 7,000 items in its collection, which is mostly dedicated to Native American materials. The collection includes books on the Dakota, history, biography, geography, government, sociology, anthropology, religion, science, health, literature (fiction, poetry, drama, and journals), art, music, dance, arts and crafts, and education (includes curricula). There is also a juvenile section and an extensive audio/video section. Indian newspapers and magazines are also available. The library is open to researchers and educators by appointment only.

Enterprises
The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community has developed enterprises which provide services to the larger community. Dakotah! Sport and Fitness is the home ice for Prior Lake High School hockey and the Prior Lake Hockey Association. Thousands of local residents enjoy increased good health by training at Dakotah!'s facilities which include a double gymnasium, an indoor pool, an indoor track, a rock climbing wall, a fitness floor, group fitness facilities, and more than 10,000 pounds in free weights. Dakotah! also sponsors a 5K Turkey Trot and an indoor triathlon. Playworks is a one-of-a-kind, world-class facility for children, open to the general public for daily educare, Summer Camp, birthday parties, PW's Playtime (drop-off hourly care), Family Play, and group trips. South Metro Federal Credit Union is a community-chartered, federal credit union, providing a wide range of financial products and services for everyone living or working in Scott County, Minnesota. The Meadows at Mystic Lake Golf Course provides recreational opportunities on one of the best courses in the country. Dakotah Meadows Mini Storage provides a secure facility for long term storage needs, both indoors and outdoors. The Playworks LINK Event Center has meeting space for groups of various sizes. Catering is also available. The Dakota Mall is the home of the Shakopee Dakota Convenience Store, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, and South Metro Federal Credit Union.