One of the most important priorities of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Dakota Community (SMSC) is to express itself as a sovereign government, independent from the surrounding communities. Native Americans throughout the United States have been fighting for this distinction since Europeans started inhabiting North America. For past several years, the SMSC has made many strides in doing this, largely because of the wealth obtained through Indian gaming. The wealth has enabled the community to provide public services to its members and aided the tribe in building a community less dependent on the neighboring cities, the state of Minnesota and the federal government. Though the tribe has made many strides in developing an independent community, there are many more steps to be taken in order to succeed in the endeavor of an independent, sovereign government. The SMSC has an opportunity to be a leader of the Native American societies by building a community through government, educational, business and philanthropic institutions. If done correctly, the SMSC will be at the center of the renaissance for Native American societies in the twenty-first century.
In order to better establish the reservation as an independent community, the SMSC will need to continue building public institutions and the best building to start with is a government hall. People are visual and the construction of public institutions is an effective measure in creating independence. Currently the SMSC has a very active government, where nearly every eligible member votes regularly and attends community meetings; however, there isn’t a distinct location where outsiders can envision this happening. The outcome of building a government hall with great architecture will enhance, empower, motivate and bring clarity to the SMSC members by creating a space where it shows the importance of what is being accomplished by the SMSC. A government hall is essential to the renaissance of Native Americans and to further establish a sovereign government for the present and future.
In addition to building a government hall, the SMSC will greatly benefit from building schools on the reservation and creating a curriculum based on the Native American perspective. A curriculum based on Native American history, language, arts, sciences and traditions is essential to preserving Native American culture. It will provide an alternative to the traditional European based education system provided by the public school system in the United States. The creation of a university system is another strategic move in centering the renaissance on this reservation. Education is the best way to preserve and empower the traditions of the Native American people. An education system is another vital aspect to the success of strengthening independence on the reservation.
Indian gaming has been key to generating wealth on the reservation and the SMSC is using the wealth to build public institutions and provide services to the members of the community. The revenue generated through business has been used wisely in creating a more sovereign government. Continuing to build up the business community will help in developing a healthy and vibrant community. It is the business community that allows for the other parts of the community to flourish and the SMSC will be wise to attract more business to the reservation; including, retail, dining and entertainment that supports gaming. In addition, the SMSC should look for businesses that are independent from gaming as it will provide a more balanced economy on the reservation. The revenue created through business is used to build the institutions that preserve Native American culture and strengthen sovereignty on the reservation.
Philanthropy is a strong part of the SMSC community and with the success of Indian gaming the tribe has given millions of dollars to many charitable organizations. The SMSC will continue to do this and should focus their philanthropy on building institutions on the reservation. The reservation will be served well with the construction of museums and libraries that cultivate Native American art and history. Museums and libraries are institutions that add culture to the community and provide education to outsiders unaware of Native American culture. Most importantly, it is often from these institutions that you cultivate the strongest members of the community, who preserve the traditions and protect the sovereignty of the reservation.
Picture the SMSC with a government hall, an elementary school, a middle school, a high school, a university, a business district, an industrial district, a museum, a library and more. It will look dramatically different from today and even more different from 1969. These are buildings that will cement the sovereignty of the community and create a renaissance on the reservation that will be contagious to other tribes throughout the country. To preserve Native American culture into the twenty-first century and beyond, the SMSC will need to continue building the institutions that will support Native American culture, tradition and sovereignty.
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