Shakopee
Sustainability Report 2023
Mdewakanton Sioux Community
GOOD NEIGHBOR GOOD EMPLOYER GOOD STEWARD OF THE EARTH
The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) continues to celebrate new achievements in pursuit of our mission and values. We would like to take this opportunity to reflect on some of the many successes that occurred in 2023. We hope this inspires our friends and neighbors to join in all the great work that still remains.
OUR MISSION
Caring for Uŋci Maka (Grandmother Earth) is at the heart of what the SMSC strives to do—now and for future generations. We are fully dedicated to serving our members, supporting other tribes and organizations across the globe, creating strong partnerships, and protecting our natural resources for the benefit of everyone.
NATIVEGREEN
NativeGreen unifies all of our past accomplishments and future work together in a public forum. To bring Uŋci Maka back to a path of balance with modern life will take extraordinary commitments to sustainability by communities like ours. As others chart their own paths, our friends and neighbors can look to NativeGreen for the bold leadership and innovation happening throughout the SMSC.
OUR LAND
Wozupi Tribal Gardens
grew organic produce throughout the year.
5,500 463 174 native trees native shrubs native plants PLANTED THIS YEAR
SMSC had 55 goats helping out with managing invasive species across 11 acres of land
HOURS SPENT
removing invasive species
91 acres of prairie restored
PRESCRIBED BURNS MIMICKED NATURAL FIRE AND REGENERATION ON 185 ACRES.
OUR WATER
ARCTIC LAKE WATER CLARITY AVERAGE REACHED THE DEEPEST IN ALL YEARS OF SAMPLING
THREE LAKES, FIVE STREAMS, TWO WETLANDS, AND TWO SPRINGS WERE MONITORED FOR WATER QUALITY.
Completed 1,046 erosion and sediment control inspections at 62 sites.
No zebra mussels were found in monitored SMSC lakes in 2023
MYSTIC LAKE TOTAL PHOSPHORUS
REACHED THE LOWEST CONCENTRATIONS IN ALL YEARS OF SAMPLING
226
The Organics Recycling Facility officially announced its move
Reusable and compostable dishware are used instead of non-recyclable materials across the SMSC.
HOLIDAY COMPOSTING PROGRAMS:
386 Christmas trees were composted
16,580 pounds of pumpkins were composted
SMSC WATER BOTTLING SOLD NEARLY 8,420 RETURNABLE 5-GALLON JUGS (EQUIVALENT TO 269,440 SINGLE-USE WATER BOTTLES).
8,420
The 2023 free yard waste program collected yard waste from 4,751 residents of Scott County.
In 2023 the SMSC took in and recycled 82,379 tons of organic waste
15,414 tons of wood waste
12,760 tons of food waste
29,823 tons of yard waste
97.2% OF ORGANIC WASTE CAME FROM TWIN CITIES METRO, 2.8% CAME FROM SMSC ENTERPRISES.
BUILDING AND ENERGY
A SOLAR ENERGY FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS WAS COMPLETED FOR 21 SITES ACROSS THE COMMUNITY CO2e emissions
90% of commercial real estate
(2.3 million square feet) underwent deep energy retrofit audits for energy conservation.
Since 2018
• CO2e decreased by 37.49%
• Electricity use (kWh) decreased 8.2%
Broke ground on a hydronic central plant that will avoid nearly 8,000 tonnes CO2e/year." It will also eliminate systems containing more than 6,000 lbs of R-22 refrigerant, a potent greenhouse gas
THE SMSC MATCHES 100% OF ELECTRICITY NEEDS TO WIND FARMS IN THE DAKOTAS
• Natural gas use (therms) decreased by 53.4%
• Total energy use (BTUs decreased by 35.1%
EDUCATION
THE SMSC’S SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS SHARED
8 EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS ABOUT THE COMMUNITY’S SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM NATIVEGREEN
The SMSC celebrated Earth Day by hosting 2 events with 313 total attendees
Ina Maka Yuonihaŋpi events taught youth about topography, native plants, birds, fish stocking, sage harvesting, and more.
Three educational events taught Playworks students about environmental science, including lessons in riparian zones, water cycles, and fossils.
HOW WE MOVE
20 Tesla and Level 2 EV stations provided more than 20,000 charging sessions at no cost to guests or team members
The SMSC joined the EV Smart Native Nations Program. This program supports and provides Native communities with a roadmap to electric vehicle readiness.
SMSC fleet piloted its first electric vehicle, and plans to include more in the coming years
GOOD NEIGHBOR
4,000
BACKPACKS FILLED WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES WERE DONATED TO STUDENTS K-12.
OVER DOUBLE THE AMOUNT AS LAST YEAR
1,600 TOYS were collected and donated to children during the Holiday toy drive
45,387 POUNDS OF FOOD DISTRIBUTED TO OVER 1,000 FAMILIES
600 PET SUPPLY ITEMS WERE DONATED TO ANIMAL SHELTERS AND OTHER LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS
3,400 MEALS were prepared and donated to local food shelves (that’s equivalent to 27,200 servings)
387 mattresses donated to local organizations after Mystic Lake Casino Hotel renovations
100+ DAILY RIDERS used the SMSC’s public transit and motor pool programs.
SHAKOPEE’S MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL CONTINUES TO PROMOTE CLEANER TRANSPORTATION AND HEALTHIER LIFESTYLES FOR RESIDENTS
THE MINNESOTA ZOO’S TREETOP TRAIL HELD ITS GRAND OPENING. IT WAS COMPLETED WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE SMSC. IT IS THE LONGEST ELEVATED TRAIL LOOP IN THE WORLD.
FUEL USE DECREASED 3% ACROSS THE SMSC SINCE LAST YEAR, WHICH IS A 21% DECREASE SINCE 2018
The SMSC Print Shop has proudly printed this report and other publications on Monadnock Paper Mills’ products for several years. Monadnock produces over 50% of its electrical requirement from on-site low-impact river hydro power. All of their products are made with 100% renewable electricity through the investment in Green-e certified wind powered RECs, and manufactured carbon neutral through the investment in emission reductions (CERs) certified under the Kyoto CDM Registry. Its products are certified by Preferred by Nature to the industry’s Chain of Custody Standard, and this report was made from 100% post-consumer recycled content. Its facilities have also maintained ISO 14001 Environmental Management System certification for more than a decade.
Supply chain impacts (including Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions) are a very important aspect of the SMSC’s short-, medium-, and long-term goals. By sourcing our goods and services from the most socially and environmentally responsible companies, we maximize our influence and support for the businesses and leadership that our planet depends on.
The tree pictured on the front and back cover of this report is one of the largest living American basswood (Tilia americana) trees in the state of Minnesota. It was discovered by SMSC Land Department scientists in 2018. At last measure, its crown spread was an average of 140 feet and it measured a circumference of more than 17 feet around.
SMSCNATIVEGREEN.ORG