Prior Lake, MN - Since the youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community announces a number of donations to support education programs, both locally and in Indian Country.

Sinte Gleska University (Mission, South Dakota) received $30,000 to help purchase a van for their student transportation program. Sinte Gleska is a tribally chartered college founded in 1971 on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation with a student enrollment of more than 1,100 students whose average age is 26.

The Education Division of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe (Cass Lake, Minnesota) received $12,000 to keep two positions in the Talent Search Program that helps get students into post-secondary education. Funding for the program, which has been in operation for 25 years, was cut by the United States Department of Education.

Dunwoody College of Technology (Minneapolis, Minnesota) received $10,000 for scholarships to support American Indian students attending technical programs as part of a five-year diversity plan.

Petan Wakan Tipi (St. Paul, Minnesota) received $5,000 for their capital campaign for the Dream of Wild Health program, a 10-acre organic farm located in Hugo, Minnesota, designed to teach Native gardening to urban Indian children, propagate heirloom seeds, teach diabetes prevention, and promote self-sufficiency.

The Dreamchaser Tour (Saskatchewan, Canada) put on by performers Lorrie Church and George Atcheynum received $5,000 for five shows of a 30-tribal school tour which promotes a stay in school and anti-drug message for Native American youth.

Children's Theatre Company (Minneapolis, Minnesota) received $2,000 in support of their Neighborhood Bridges program that places teaching artists in 18 Twin City classrooms, their matinee program that allows school groups to attend plays at lower cost, and the Theatre Arts Training Program that provides theatre arts classes to students of all cultural backgrounds and abilities.

Lawrence Public Schools USD 497 (Lawrence, Kansas) received $2,000 for school supplies for the 490 American Indian students K-12 enrolled. Most of the students are children of parents who are college students at Haskell University and the University of Kansas.

The General Council of Sioux YMCAs (Dupree, South Dakota) received $2,000 for their Lakota Achievers dropout prevention program, a photography project, and a wellness program.

Minnesota DARE Inc., (Eden Prairie, Minnesota) received $1,600 to help host methamphetamine training in the Twin Cities for law enforcement officers,

Minnesota Community and Technical College (Minneapolis, Minnesota) received $500 for their annual poetry and music event which promotes awareness of Native American Culture to students and faculty.

Augsburg College (Minneapolis, Minnesota) received $500 for sponsorship of their Native American Film Series which features three documentaries, short films, animations, and speakers open free to the public.