Prior Lake, Minnesota - The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community supports cultural celebrations throughout Indian Country with donations to local events. In fiscal year 2007 the SMSC donated a total of $56,950 to 60 cultural events and Pow Wows mostly in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

A Wacipi or Pow Wow is a traditional Native American cultural celebration where the generations gather to socialize, dance, and sing. In the Dakota Language, the word "Wacipi" [wah-chee-pee] means "they dance." Often held over a weekend, a Wacipi is filled with Native American songs and dances, singers with their drums, and dancers in their colorful regalia.

The largest donation of $10,000 went to the Mahkato Mdewakanton Association for its annual traditional Pow Wow in Mankato which honors the 38 Dakota hanged there in 1862, the largest mass hanging in U.S. history. "Mahkato," the Dakota word for the town, translates as "Blue Earth." Community members from the SMSC helped found the Mahkato Wacipi 34 years ago.

Here is a list of Pow Wows supported by the SMSC with donations in fiscal year 2007: Ain Dah Yung, American Indian Student Association Pow Wow (Mankato), American Legion Auxiliary for Cherry Creek, American Legion McBride Post 257/VFW Blacksmith Post 1353, Anishinabe Academy End of Year Pow Wow, Antelope Pow Wow, Apsaalooke Veterans Day Pow Wow, Bear Creek Traditional Pow Wow, Bear Soldier Pow Wow, Bismarck-Mandan Mid-Winter Wacipi, Black Hills State University, Black Hills Pow Wow Association, Bemidji State University Council of Indian Students Spring Pow Wow, Circle of Nations Indian Association, Community Connections Annual Pow Wow, Creighton University Annual Pow Wow, Crow Fair, Dakota Prisoner Memorial and Descendent Wacipi, Dakota Wacipi, Eagle Nest District Pow Wow, Enemy Swim Wacipi, First Nations Orphan Association Pow Wow, Flandreau SST Healthy Start Program Pow Wow, Greenwood Community Pow Wow, Haskell Indian Nations Commencement Pow Wow, University, Kenel Pow Wow, Kicking Bear Wacipi, Kiyaksa Waci Okolakiciye, Gathering for Our Children/Little Earth Mother's Day Pow Wow, Mandaree Hidatsa Celebration, Meskwaki Proclamation Day Pow Wow, Minnesota West Community and Technical College Spring Pow Wow, Montana State University - Bozeman Spring Pow Wow, National Museum of the American Indian Pow Wow, Native American Center of Southeast Minnesota, Northern Cheyenne Memorial Day Pow Wow, Oglala Lakota Nation Fair and Pow Wow, Omaka Teca Wacipi, Osseo Area Schools ISD 279, People of the Plains Wacipi, Pierre School District 32-2 Pow Wow, Porcupine District Annual Pow Wow, Rainy River Community College Zigwan International Unity Traditional Pow Wow, Rock Creek VJ Pow Wow, Running Antelope Monument Pow Wow, School District 622 North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale, Southwest Minnesota State University Prairie Festival Pow Wow, St. Cloud State University Pow Wow, Spirit Lake Wacipi, University of South Dakota Tiospaye Annual Pow Wow, University of North Dakota Indian Association Time Out Pow Wow, University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, Wakpamni Lake Fourth of July Pow Wow, Warroad Pow Wow, White Horse Pow Wow, Winona-Dakota Unity Alliance, and Woodland and High Plains Pow Wow.

^ top ^