The following list of Native Americans who have served in the South Dakota State Legislature was compiled by Makenzie Huber for a May 22, 2026 article for South Dakota Searchlight about legislative redistricting. It is reposted here to make it accessible, and will be updated as necessary. (Please contact me if you have an update or correction.)
- John P. “Pat” Flynn, D25, Rosebud, 1971-1972
- Ron Volesky, D21, Standing Rock, 1981-2002
- Richard “Dick” Hagen, D27, Oglala, 1983-2002
- Tom Shortbull, D27, Oglala, 1983-1988
- Jim Emery, D30, Cheyenne River, 1985-1996
- Paul Valandra, D28, Rosebud, 1991-2006
- Tom Van Norman, D28A, Cheyenne River, 2001-2008
- Michael LaPointe, D27, Rosebud, 2003-2004
- Theresa Two Bulls, D27, Oglala, 2005-2008
- Edward Iron Cloud III, D27, Oglala, 2009-2012
- Kevin Killer, D27, Oglala, 2009-2018
- Chuck Jones, D8, Flandreau, 2013-2014
- Troy Heinert, D26, Rosebud, 2013-2022
- Shawn Bordeaux, D26, Rosebud, 2015-2024
- Steve Livermont, D27, Oglala, 2017-2020
- Tamara St. John, D1, Sisseton Wahpeton, 2017-2020
- Red Dawn Foster, D27, Oglala, 2019-26
- Peri Pourier, D27, Oglala, 2019-26
- Will Mortenson, D24, Cheyenne River, 2021-26
- Joe Donnell, D1, Sisseton Wahpeton, 2023-2024
- Tyler Tordsen, D14, Sisseton Wahpeton, 2023-2024
- Eric Emery, D26A, Rosebud, 2023-present
- Tamara Grove, D26, Cherokee ancestry, 2025-26
- Evangeline Poor Bear, D27, Oglala, 2027-present
In addition, the State Legislature has had four African-American legislators:
- Chet Jones, D10, 1993-96
- Tony Randolph, D35, 2019-26
- Tamara Grove, D26, Cherokee ancestry, 2025-26 (Grove was also Native American, listed above)
- June CopperStad, D15, 2027-present
