Alma mater Oglala Lakota College Name Kevin Killer | Education Oglala Lakota College Political party Democratic Party | |
Residence Pine Ridge, South Dakota, United States | ||
Kevin Killer (Oglala Sioux) (born May 4, 1979) is a youth activist and an American politician, serving as a Democratic member of the South Dakota House of Representatives, representing the 27th district since 2009. He lives in Pine Ridge, South Dakota.
Early life and education
Killer grew up in Denver, Colorado, where his father Francis was a CPA and member of the Oglala Sioux. His mother Janice is from the Kiowa tribe of Oklahoma. When young, Killer returned to his father's people on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation every summer, in order to know them and the land. His father died when Killer was 20, but he was helped by mentors.
Killer graduated from Oglala Lakota College. His first experience in politics was working in 2004 for former United States Senator Tom Daschle.
Killer was first elected to the State House in 2008. He is part of a generation of Native Americans who have won office in electoral politics. He serves on the House State Affairs Committee, which has an important role in moving legislation forward, and its Judicial Affairs Committee.
He is also Director of the Native American Youth Leadership Alliance, working to build youth leaders among the people of the reservations. He has noted that a high percentage of residents on the reservations are under age 18.