Shelley Buck
Shelley Buck | |
|---|---|
| Pte Wicota (Dakota) | |
Buck in 2019 | |
| Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 47A district | |
| Assumed office February 3, 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger |
| Personal details | |
| Citizenship | Prairie Island Indian Community United States |
| Party | Democratic (DFL) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Indiana University (BS) Concordia University (MA) University of Tulsa (MJIL) |
Shelley Buck (Dakota: Pte Wicota) is an American nonprofit executive and politician who represents District 47A in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Since January 2023, she has served as the president of Owámniyomni Okhódayapi ("Friends of the Falls"), a Dakota-led community organization working on restoring Bdóte. Before that, she spent 12 years on the Prairie Island Tribal Council, including six years as its president.[1][2]
Education
Buck has a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Indiana University, a Master of Arts in sports management from Concordia University, and a Master of Jurisprudence in Indian tribal law from the University of Tulsa.[2]
Career
Buck is an enrolled member of the Prairie Island Indian Community.[3] She served on the Prairie Island Tribal Council for 12 years, including stints as the tribe's president.[3][4]
In 2023, Buck became the president of Owámniyomni Okhódayapi, a nonprofit organization formerly known as Friends of the Falls.[4] The leadership transition occurred when the organization's founders turned control over to Dakota members.[4] Under Buck's leadership, the organization works to restore the area surrounding the Upper Lock at St. Anthony Falls on the Mississippi River.[3] The group advocates for converting the site into a place of education, healing, and cultural connection.[3]
Minnesota House of Representatives
After Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger was elected to the Minnesota Senate in a November 2025 special election, Buck announced her campaign for the Minnesota House of Representatives in District 47A.[5] She named affordability, environmental protection, and gun safety as her top three issues.[6] Buck won a three-way primary for the DFL nomination, defeating advocates David Azcona and Juli Servatius with 87% of the vote, and had no opponent in the general election.[7] On February 3, 2026, she was sworn in alongside Meg Luger-Nikolai, who was also elected in a January special election.[8]
Personal life
Buck lives in the South Maplewood area and has two daughters.[3]
References
- ^ "Shelley Buck". The Great Northern. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
- ^ a b "Shelley Buck". Council on Foundations. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Bloom, Beth-Ann; Franz, Theo (January 28, 2026). "Shelley Buck Elected to Represent Woodbury, South Maplewood in House District 47A". Woodbury News Net. Archived from the original on January 29, 2026. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
- ^ a b c Callaghan, Peter (December 18, 2023). "Dakota-led Owámniyomni Okhódayapi seeks to restore St. Anthony Falls area". MinnPost. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
- ^ Minor, Nathaniel (December 2, 2025). "St. Paul, Woodbury House seats up for grabs in special elections". The Minnesota Star Tribune. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
- ^ "Special election for State Representative District 47A". Minnesota Public Radio. December 11, 2025. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
- ^ Faircloth, Ryan (December 16, 2025). "Democrats advance to special elections for Minnesota House seats". The Minnesota Star Tribune. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
- ^ Akaolisa, Tom (February 3, 2026). "Minnesota House Restored to Even Split as Two New DFL Lawmakers Are Sworn In | MinneapoliMedia". minneapolimedia.town.news. Retrieved February 5, 2026.