Shakopee  Sioux  Check  Presentation
Shakopee  Sioux  Check  Presentation

Shakopee Mdewakantaon Sioux Donate $2,500 to Akwesasne Veteran’s Memorial Monument Fundraising

Jan 11, 2017

AKWESASNE — The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe announced today the volunteer committee of the Akwesasne Veteran’s Memorial Monument Fund (AVMMF) received a $2,500 grant from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) to purchase flag poles, flag pole bases and benches.

Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Sub-Chief and Committee Chairperson Cheryl Jacobs stated, “On behalf of the Akwesasne Veterans Memorial Monument Committee, we are proud to have the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community join us in our effort to proudly recognize the military service of all Akwesasne veterans. We extend our sincere appreciation for their generosity, which helps ensure we reach our fundraising goal and that the memorial project will be completed by Memorial Day Weekend in May 2017. The grant from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux, as well as the financial contribution from others, helps give individuals a vested interest in recognizing the vital role that Akwesasne veterans served in all branches of the United States Armed Services."

The AVMMF Committee has agreed that the funds will be used specifically for the purpose of purchasing three flag poles and four benches depicted in the artist’s rendering that was submitted to the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Business Council in August 2016. The committee recently placed the three panels on order with a manufacturing company and expect delivery during the week of May 22nd.

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is a federally recognized, sovereign Indian Tribe located southwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul. With a focus on being a good neighbor, good steward of the Earth, and good employer; the SMSC is committed to charitable donations, community partnerships, a healthy environment, and a strong economy. The SMSC and the SMSC Gaming Enterprises (Mystic Lake Casino Hotel and Little Six Casino) are the largest employer in Scott County. From the Dakota tradition of helping others, the SMSC has donated nearly $300 million to charitable organizations, as well as to regional governments for infrastructure projects; such as roads, water and sewer systems and emergency services.

The Akwesasne Veteran’s Memorial Monument Fundraising Committee is a volunteer group, who under the leadership of military veteran and Tribal Sub-Chief Cheryl Jacobs, is committed to seeing the project come to fruition. She continuously acknowledges the efforts of former-Tribal Chief Paul O. Thompson for initially taking on the initiative that began in 2013, which was introduced to him by a community member who served 20 years in the U.S. Navy, Mr. David ‘Ed’ Benedict.

Sub-Chief Jacobs reactivated the volunteer committee that sat dormant for nearly 8 months when Paul took ill. She has helped re-energize the committee by conducting a grueling call out for local Akwesasne artists to submit proposals for the conceptual design and final artistic depiction of the monument. Although no local artists submitted a proposal, an artist was found and commissioned to complete the design phase of the monument with input from the committee and community members.

The committee was explicit in what they felt the monument should contain and for it to be representative of Akwesasne Veterans — instilling Mohawk cultural elements into the monument was of significance importance to honor all Akwesasne Veterans. It has resulted in a design that will pay tribute to all who have served in the Armed Forces proudly and valiantly, as well as those who continue to serve.

The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe is proud to support the construction of the Akwesasne Veterans Memorial Monument, both financially and spiritually, which will be erected inside of Generations Park’s Tewahtahita Walking Trail located in Akwesasne.

PHOTO CAPTION: Akwesasne Veteran's Memorial Monument Fundraising Committee Chairperson and Tribal Sub-Chief Cheryl Jacobs poses alongside a scale model of the veteran’s memorial while proudly holding a $2,500 check donated by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community to be used in helping to purchase the flag poles, flag pole’s bases and benches for the project.

# # # # #

The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council is the duly elected and federally recognized government of the Saint Regis Mohawk People. ­