Red Dawn Foster facts for kids

Red Dawn Foster is a politician who serves in the South Dakota Senate. She represents the 27th district, which covers the Pine Ridge Reservation and several counties in South Dakota. She was elected in November 2018 and began her work on January 8, 2019.

About Red Dawn Foster

Early Life and Education

Red Dawn Foster earned a degree in political science from the University of Colorado Denver. She also has a business degree from the University of Notre Dame. She is a proud member of both the Oglala Sioux and Navajo tribes.

Her Work in Politics

Red Dawn Foster is a member of the Democratic Party. She works as a state senator in South Dakota. This means she helps make laws for the state.

Elections and Terms

Red Dawn Foster first ran for the South Dakota House of Representatives in 2016 but did not win that election.

In 2018, she ran for the South Dakota Senate. She won the Democratic Primary election with 55.6% of the votes. Then, in the main election, she won against her opponent with 58.6% of the votes.

She ran for re-election in 2020 and won again, getting 56.3% of the votes. In 2022, she won her re-election with 51.45% of the votes.

Because of South Dakota's rules, Senator Foster can serve one more term in the Senate. She can run for re-election again in 2024.

Committee Work

As a senator, Red Dawn Foster works on different committees. These groups focus on specific topics and help review new laws.

• From 2019 to 2020, she worked on committees for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Health and Human Services, Military and Veterans Affairs, and Transportation.
• In 2021 and 2022, she served on the Commerce and Energy, Health and Human Services, and Local Government committees.
• In 2022, she also joined special groups like the Ag. Land Assessment Task Force, Rules Review, State-Tribal Relations, and a Study on Juvenile Justice.

Key Focus Areas

Senator Foster works on several important issues. She often introduces new laws or supports ideas that help her community and the people of South Dakota.

Native American Rights

A big part of Senator Foster's work is supporting the rights of Native American people. She has worked on laws that aim to:

• Recognize the achievements of Indigenous people.
• Allow Native Americans to hunt, fish, and visit state parks without needing special licenses or paying fees.
• Include Native American history in school lessons across South Dakota.

She has supported bills to:

• Make sure the Indian Education Advisory Council reports to the Governor each year.
• Recognize the star quilt as an official symbol of the state.
• Help fund research for tribal housing development.
• Honor important Native American leaders and groups, like Norma Rendon and the Lakota Nation Invitational.
• Allow students to wear beaded graduation caps at ceremonies.
• Create a memorial for South Dakota Sioux Code Talkers.
• Urge the government to fully fund public safety for the Oglala and Rosebud Sioux Tribes.

Missing Indigenous Persons

Senator Foster is very involved in the movement to address Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP). This movement highlights the serious issue of Native Americans, especially women and girls, who go missing or are victims of violence at high rates. She has worked on laws to:

• Improve how missing children cases are handled.
• Provide funding for an office that helps with Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons cases.

Healthcare Access

Senator Foster strongly supports expanding healthcare programs like Medicaid in South Dakota. Medicaid helps people with lower incomes get medical care. She has worked on bills to:

• Set up how much Medicaid pays for services like chiropractic, dental, and eye care.
• Create a fund to help pay for expanding Medicaid eligibility in the state.