Prior Lake, Minnesota - The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community announces a tribal grant to the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe for $486,415 for community improvements and tribal programs.

The grant will be used for the following projects:

$175,000 for a gymnasium cooling system
$100,000 for a telepharmacy-auto dispenser
$61,790 for an electronic health records system
$50,000 for a digitizer for radiology
$28,600 for community cultural activities
$27,625 for women's activities
$25,000 for videoconferencing for health programs
$18,400 for a men's group

Tribal Chairwoman Charlene Nelson described her reaction to receiving the grant in a letter to SMSC Chairman Stanley Crooks. "Yesterday was a very special day, and I personally wanted you to know what made it special. Definitely not the weather, there was rain and fog. In the mail was a letter from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community in my mailbox. I opened it up and read it and said to our secretary, 'This is wonderful, I can't believe it, this is wonderful.' I never thought we would be funded to do all these projects and I thank you. The gray day became a very special day because suddenly we had opportunity for growth and change that we did not have that morning when I left [home]. I wanted you to know how much this meant to us as a Tribe and to me as personally as Chair. We want good things for Indian people in our area and for our Tribal people and this gift moves us forward to that goal. Mahsie, Mahsie [Thank you, thank you]."

In 2001 the SMSC donated $91,888 to the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe for a gymnasium. "The gymnasium project you helped us complete has become the meeting place for youth, elders, and other community members at many functions and events. The difference the gym has made is significant," wrote Nelson. "Your pioneering spirit of Indians helping Indians succeed is admirable and sets an example for all Indian Tribes to follow."

The Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe is located on a little over 334 acres along the Pacific coast in southwestern Washington State (about 80 miles west of Olympia). It is a small tribe in an isolated location trying to address issues related to poverty.

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