Good Steward
of the Earth

In 2022,
Dakotah! Sport and Fitness donated 24 of its gently used commercial cardio and strength machines to the Beauterre Recovery Institute, a rehab center in southern Minnesota.
More than 28,000 acres of forested land were returned to the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa in spring of 2022, with support from the SMSC. The largest restoration of its kind in United States history.
Employees from across the SMSC will join Habitat for Humanity (summer 2022), building four affordable housing units in Prior Lake.
A first-of-its-kind study, “Restoring Our Place: An analysis of Native American resources used in Minnesota’s classrooms," was commissioned by the SMSC and released in spring of 2022.
The Minnesota Zoo recently broke ground on the world’s longest elevated pedestrian loop called the Treetop Trail. With support from the SMSC, the Minnesota Zoo plans to complete the trail by summer 2023.
With the help of goats, SMSC conservation scientists managed invasive species on 240 acres in 2021.
In 2021,
SMSC wildland firefighters battled the Near Miss Fire on the White Earth Reservation.
SMSC natural resource scientists planted more than 4,300 trees and 1,650 other native plants in 2021.
In partnership with Scott County, the SMSC Organics Recycling Facility launched a free residential food waste drop-off program in 2021.
In 2021,
SMSC employees and team members assembled more than 31,000 meals for local families in need.
SMSC enterprises provided no-cost bus service to more than 130 daily riders in 2021.
In 2021,
the SMSC partnered with Second Harvest Heartland and the CAP Agency provided meals to more than 800 local families.
The SMSC's Understand Native Minnesota philanthropic campaign launched a podcast in 2021, titled Native Minnesota with host Secretary/Treasurer Rebecca Crooks-Stratton. (Available to stream wherever you get your podcasts.)
1,966
individuals participated in the SMSC’s 2021 Earth Week activities.
More than 1,200
backpacks full of school supplies were donated to children in need in 2021.
300
fleece blankets were assembled by SMSC employees and team members in 2021. The blankets were donated to children in need in Native American communities.
In 2021,
the SMSC began decarbonization assessments for 90% of all non-residential buildings, which will be used in future capital planning.
With support from the SMSC and the City of Shakopee, the Xcel Energy Mountain Bike Park opened in 2021. The trails loop around Quarry Lake and offers a range of difficulty and are approximately 4 miles long.
SMSC employees and team members planted hundreds of plants during the Great River Greening planting project in 2021.
In 2021,
Hoċokata Ti welcomed more than 4,000 visitors to the exhibit Mdewakanton: Dwellers of the Spirit Lake.
Ina Mak̇a Yuonihaŋpi is a family-centered nature program which began in 2021.
SMSC enterprises and departments have reduced the use of office paper by 30% (2018-2021).
Reusable and compostable dishware have replaced single-use plastics throughout the SMSC.
In 2021,
the SMSC recycled more than 45,000 pounds of secure documents.
The SMSC added its 24th rain garden, which contains 900 plants, in 2021.
In 2021,
Arctic Lake reached its deepest water clarity since monitoring first began.
SMSC scientists added a macroinvertebrate program (such as stonefly nymphs or larvae) to 22 years of water quality monitoring in 2021.
In 2021,
the SMSC purchased 18,617 Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) from wind farms in the Dakotas. This was equal to the electricity used at more than 30 buildings throughout the SMSC.
Fuel usage has reduced by 18% across SMSC enterprises and government fleets (2018-2021).
Electrical vehicle charging provided more than 1,700 charges in 2021, at no cost to users.
SMSC enterprises and industrial facilities have reduced their refrigerants' greenhouse gas emissions by a total 32% (2018-2021).
In 2021,
energy use monitoring was expanded beyond SMSC buildings, to include every streetlight and traffic camera.
SMSC enterprises and industrial buildings have reduced overall energy use, maintaining 10% below baseline (2018-2021).
SMSC households have reduced their energy usage by 13% (2018-2021).
SMSC households have reduced natural gas use by 18% per home (2018-2021).

Caring for Uŋcí Mak̇a, Grandmother Earth, is at the heart of what the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) strives for—now and for future generations. We are dedicated to serving our members, supporting other tribes and organizations across the globe, creating strong partnerships, and protecting our natural resources for everyone to enjoy. NativeGreen helps foster a healthy community, environment, and local economy.

Check out the SMSC’s national Tribal Science Council presentation below and view the SMSC’s 2022 reflections.

Energy + Greenhouse Gases

Natural Areas

Water Management

Waste Reduction