Shakopee, Minnesota - The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community announces a $100,000 grant to the Division of Indian Work of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The grant will cover programming and services to include treatment support and recovery maintenance services, housing services, the Strengthening Family Circles teen parents program, the Phoenix Project working with young women, the American Indian Math Project (targeting grades 5-10), the Healing Spirits Program, the Youth Leadership Development program, and the Horizons Unlimited food shelf.

Executive Director Noya Woodrich (Athabascan Alaskan Native), who has been with the Division of Indian Work for 17 years, said, “We really appreciate Shakopee’s consistent and ongoing support of the work we do here. It shows the acknowledgement at the tribal level of the work we are doing for the urban community. They’ve funded us every year since 1994.”

“The Division of Indian Work provides a valuable service to the urban Minneapolis American Indian community,” said SMSC Chairman Stanley R. Crooks. “We appreciate that they are able to assist members of tribes who come to the Twin Cities from all over the country live better, more healthier and productive lives.”

For more than 50 years the Division of Indian Work, in partnership with the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches, has offered a variety of services for Native American families. Some of their other services include parenting and youth mentorship programs, a food shelf, emergency assistance, a group home for boys, daily summer activities for children, after school tutoring, cultural activities, holiday meal baskets, foster parents' licensing, and cooking classes.

In fiscal year 2008 the DIW received $150,000 from the SMSC. Of that amount $50,000 was for general operating expenses and $100,000 was for capital for group homes. Including the fiscal year 2009 donation, the SMSC has made total donations of $1,209,500 to the Division of Indian Work over the past several years.

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