Charlie Vig facts for kids

Charlie Vig is an important former leader of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community in Minnesota. He served as the tribe's Vice Chairman and then as Chairman. The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is a very influential Native American tribe. They are known for helping many other Native American groups across the country.

Who is Charlie Vig?

Charlie Vig was the youngest of nine children in his family. His grandmother, Minnie Otherday, was related to John Otherday. John Otherday was a hero who helped many people during the Dakota War of 1862.

His Early Life and Family

Charlie grew up in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. In 1969, his family moved near Prior Lake. His parents were among the first people to help create the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. When Charlie was nine years old, his father passed away.

After high school, Charlie started working in construction. He specialized in masonry, which is building with bricks and stones. In 1981, he married Donna Vig, who was a social worker. They have five children together: four sons and one daughter.

Working for the Community

Charlie Vig began working for the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community in 1992. He started as a project manager for the new Mystic Lake Casino. At first, he managed only three employees. Within three years, he became a vice president at the casino. He then oversaw more than 800 employees.

He also served seven terms on the tribe's gambling board. Today, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is the biggest employer in Scott County, Minnesota. They employ about 4,100 people.

Becoming a Tribal Leader

In January 2012, Charlie Vig was chosen as the Vice Chairman of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. He took over from Glynn Crooks, who had been Vice Chairman for 16 years.

Later that year, on August 25, 2012, the Chairman, Stanley Crooks, passed away. According to the tribe's rules, the Vice Chairman becomes Chairman if the Chairman dies. So, Charlie Vig became the new Chairman. The tribe's treasurer, Keith B. Anderson, then became the new Vice Chairman. Charlie said that Chairman Crooks' passing was a shock, but not completely unexpected. He felt confident in stepping up to lead the community.

Helping Others and Building Connections

As Chairman, Charlie Vig continued the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community's strong tradition of giving to charity. Between 1992 and 2013, the tribe donated almost $272 million to different groups and causes. In 2012 alone, they gave over $29 million. Overall, the tribe has donated more than $350 million. This makes them one of the biggest charitable givers in Minnesota.

Important Community Projects

• Seeds of Native Health: In 2015, the tribe started a big project called Seeds of Native Health. This five-year, $11 million effort was the largest project ever focused on improving nutrition for Native Americans.
• Understand Native Minnesota: In 2019, the community launched Understand Native Minnesota. This $5 million project aims to improve how Native American history and culture are taught in Minnesota schools.

Chairman Vig also focused on building strong relationships for the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community.

• The tribe worked with the City of Prior Lake to build a shared water treatment facility.
• They partnered with Prior Lake on a large project to expand County Road 83.
• The tribe also invested over $30 million in local infrastructure. These improvements benefited the entire region.

Charlie Vig also worked with other Sioux tribes to protect Pe’ Sla. This is a very important sacred site in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Retirement and Recognition

In 2020, Chairman Vig decided to retire from public service. He wanted to spend more time with his family. To honor his great work, the Scott County board and the city councils of Prior Lake and Shakopee declared January 27 as "Chairman Charlie Vig Day."