June 10, 2009

$1 Million Dollar Pledge Fulfilled

Embassy of Tribal Nations Set to Open in Washington D.C.

Prior Lake, MN - The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community has fulfilled its commitment for a $1 million challenge grant to support the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) capital campaign to fund an Embassy of Tribal Nations in Washington, D.C.

With the SMSC grant and other capitol funds raised, NCAI recently purchased a building to house the Embassy. Ideally located at 1514 P Street in the heart of the new 14th Street Neighborhood and Dupont Circle, this property is comprised of three large office buildings and three charming Carriage Houses. Its location provides excellent access to strategic parts of the District of Columbia. Staff will move into the offices at the end of May 2009.

In 2006 the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community issued the challenge grant to encourage other tribes to participate in the project. With a recent payment of $283,002 for the Embassy, the SMSC has now fulfilled its commitment for the full $1 million.

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community's $1 million challenge donation to the campaign launched an extensive contribution outreach with the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation matching the $1 million challenge, and the Chickasaw Nation and San Manuel Band of Mission Indians donating $100,000 each.

Other tribes that donated to the campaign are the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Santo Domingo Pueblo, Redding Rancheria, Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, Siletz Tribe, Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians, Tohono O'Odham Nation, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, Ak-Chin Indian Community, Central Council Tlingit and Haida Tribes, Aqua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Coeur d'Alene Tribe, Pakenta Band of Nomlaki Indians, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, Quileute Nation, Coquille Indian Tribe, Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin, Swinomish Tribal Community, Seneca Nation, Absentee Shawnee Tribe, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, Coquille Indian Tribe, Wiyot Tribe-Table Bluff Reservation, Yavapai-Apache Nation, Hualapai Tribal Nation, Mescalero Apache, Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Indian Reservation. NCAI also received over a hundred individual donations.

The SMSC paid $424,067 for this challenge grant in fiscal year 2007 and $292,930 in fiscal year 2008. The payment of $283,003 is in fiscal year 2009.

"We think it is important to support this project so that our Indian Nations can have a stronger voice in the policies and practices of the federal government. Our voices need to be heard by those who are in positions of power and who make decisions which impact Indian Country," said SMSC Chairman Stanley R. Crooks.

The Embassy of Tribal Nations will establish a permanent national headquarters for the NCAI as well as other sister organizations. Visiting tribal leaders and representatives will be able to conduct business from the Embassy which will also serve as a central working location. Collaboration on issues important to Native American people will be facilitated through sharing space with other organizations that serve the needs of Indian Country.

NCAI is the oldest, largest, and one of the most representative American Indian organization in the country, advocating on behalf of more than 250 tribal governments to promote tribal sovereignty and a better understanding in the general public about Native American governments, people, and rights. For more information about NCAI go to www.ncai.org.