SMSC supports Sung Maka Ska with $120,000 grant

Prior Lake, MN- A grant from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community will support a small business on the Lower Brule Reservation in South Dakota. Sung Maka Ska (“White Earth Horse” in the Dakota Language) employs five full-time individuals who otherwise would have no work. The business makes – in assembly line manner – contemporary gift items from traditional materials like hide, leather, and beadwork. Each of the handmade and hand painted items are low cost and can be produced in quantity while ensuring quality. The product line currently includes rawhide and leather ornaments, Road Smudge Kits, sample bags of popcorn and beads, corporate gift packages, and more. The products made are marketed to the tourist trade and gift shops.

Sung Maka Ska was created through the Lower Brule Summer Training and Employment Program and when it appeared it was workable, it was formally organized with a loan from the tribal economic development committee. The business was incubated and supervised under the Cultural Resources/Public Information Office of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe.

The SMSC grant will be used for working capital to provide assistance with marketing and for purchase of a new building. The building, situated on a corner that every visitor to the reservation passes, offers a small space for retail products as well as visitor/tourist information. Previous to the purchase of this building, there was no local retail outlet for these products or a visitor information site.

Since the unemployment rate of the total labor force of 673 at Lower Brule is 48% and of those employed, 25% remain below the federal poverty line, the jobs this business provides makes an important difference in the lives of their employees. After a year and a half in business, it continues with its original employees and has generated community enthusiasm. There are two to three prospective employees for each employee currently on the payroll.

“With assistance from the SMSC, we will be much closer to our primary goal, to create sustainable employment at Lower Brule by developing permanent businesses with enthusiastic and highly motivated employees in an environment that offers continued expansion and training opportunities. It is crucial that these small business ideas and opportunities are sensitive to the cultural issues and the preservation of their culture, and that these opportunities train employees from the ground up, while helping them to feel ownership in the products they create. The Lower Brule Council and I whole heartedly support this new business effort and its success in creating jobs here in our community,” wrote Michael B. Jandreau, Chairman of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe.

SMSC Chairman Stanley Crooks commented on the donation, “During this time of economic downturn, jobs are crucial to give people a sense of hope. Sung Maka Ska is doing that while providing an opportunity for Lower Brule tribal members to also create a tangible product, both of which benefit their entire community.”