Shakopee Tribe awards grant to Great Plains gaming

Tuesday, May 13, 2008  

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community of Minnesota has awarded a $125,000 grant to the Great Plains Indian Gaming Association.

The grant will help GPIGA, which represents 28 tribes in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Wyoming, and Montana, with legal representation. "The donation generously granted by the Shakopee Mdewakanton specifically was used to protect the treaty rights of Indian Nations in dealing with federal legislation which would have adversely affected economic development as well as promoting pro-tribal legislation that would benefit tribal nations across Indian Country," GIPA executive director Kurt Luger said.

The Shakopee Tribe is not a member of GPIGA but has supported the organization's goals.