BISMARCK, N.D. – There are more than two dozen new members of the North Dakota House as the legislative session takes shape and two newly elected Native American representatives hope to make their mark.
The new members with Indigenous roots are Jayme Davis of Rollete, and Lisa Finley-Deville, who represents the Fort Berthold Reservation.
Rep. Davis, with ties to the Turtle Mountain and Standing Rock Tribes, said one of her goals is to codify the Indian Child Welfare Act into North Dakota law. The federal policy requires states to protect Native children in out-of-home placement cases and is currently before the U.S. Supreme Court.
“Codifying that process in-state really enhances the state’s commitment to protecting our Indian children here,” Davis said.
Rep. Finley-DeVille says she’s excited to serve as a voice for the Fort Berthold area, and will try to secure more voting centers on reservations.
“We have six counties on Fort Berthold, so that is one of the important things – to see those polling areas open, so people don’t have to travel [an] hour-and-a-half away to vote,” Finley-DeVille said.
Finley-DeVille also plans to call for more behavioral health providers in tribal areas, noting there’s a shortage in the communities she serves. Childcare is another top priority, with the issue expected to receive heavy focus this session. Lawmakers from many areas, as well as the governor, have pledged to take action.
Both Davis and Finley-DeVille are Democrats, but said they hope to work with the Republican majority so all legislators realize the needs of tribal nations across North Dakota.
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