Benjamin Reifel

Benjamin Reifel was a prominent American politician and public administrator who served as a U.S. Representative for South Dakota's 1st congressional district from 1961 until 1971. A member of the Republican Party, Reifel made history as the first Lakota individual to serve in the U.S. Congress. His career was marked by a commitment to both agricultural interests and the advancement of educational opportunities for Native Americans. Before his political career, he had a significant tenure with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, where he worked to implement policies aimed at improving the lives of Native American communities.

Early life and career

Benjamin Reifel was born on September 19, 1906, in a log cabin near Parmelee, South Dakota, located on the Rosebud Indian Reservation. He was the son of Lucy Burning Breast, a Sicangu Lakota, and William Reifel, who was of German descent. As an enrolled member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Reifel was deeply connected to his heritage, and his Lakota name, Wíyaka Waŋžíla, translates to "Lone Feather" in English. His early education took place in local schools, including a boarding school on the Rosebud Reservation, where he graduated from the eighth grade at the age of 16, becoming proficient in both English and Lakota.

Following his early education, Reifel spent three years working on his family's farm before pursuing further studies. He attended the School of Agriculture, a vocational high school in Brookings, South Dakota, and graduated in 1928. Subsequently, he enrolled at South Dakota State College, where he financed his education through personal means and loans available to Native American students under a new educational initiative. Reifel earned a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture in 1932 and was elected president of the Students' Association during his final year.

After completing his degree, Reifel began his career as an adviser for boys at Hare's School in Mission, South Dakota. In 1933, he joined the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) as a farm agent at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, working with the Oglala Lakota people. His responsibilities included promoting the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, which aimed to reverse the allotment of reservation lands and support tribal self-governance. Reifel's efforts were instrumental in ensuring the effective implementation of these programs across various reservations in South Dakota.

Reifel's career with the BIA was temporarily interrupted by World War II. He had been commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve in 1931 and was called to active duty in March 1942. He served in the military until July 1946, achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel.

After the war, Reifel returned to the BIA, where he held various positions, including Tribal Relations Officer at Pine Ridge and Superintendent of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota. In 1949, he received a scholarship to study public administration at Harvard University, completing his master's degree that same year. He continued his education at Harvard, earning a Doctorate in Public Administration in 1952. Following his academic achievements, Reifel returned to the BIA, where he worked briefly in Washington, D.C., before resuming his role as Superintendent at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. In 1955, he was promoted to Area Director of the Aberdeen Area Office in South Dakota, overseeing the application of federal programs for American Indians across a three-state region.

House tenure

In 1960, after retiring from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Reifel entered the political arena by running for Congress in South Dakota's 1st congressional district, which encompassed all counties east of the Missouri River. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1961, making history as the first individual of Lakota descent to serve in Congress. Throughout his five terms, which lasted until 1971, Reifel was the only American Indian serving in Congress during that period. His election marked a significant milestone in the representation of Native Americans in U.S. politics.

As a congressman, Reifel was regarded as a conservative Republican and was actively involved in various legislative matters. He held several committee assignments during his tenure, initially serving on the House Agricultural Committee in his first term. In his subsequent term, he was appointed to the House Committee on Appropriations, where he became the ranking Republican on the subcommittee responsible for Interior Department Affairs. His legislative work often focused on issues pertinent to farming and agriculture, particularly in South Dakota and the surrounding Plains states.

Reifel was a strong advocate for agricultural interests, opposing cuts to farm support programs and promoting initiatives such as the Oahe Dam project, which aimed to provide irrigation water for farmers in the region. His commitment to agricultural issues was a defining aspect of his congressional career, reflecting his background and understanding of the challenges faced by farmers in South Dakota.

Legislative focus and committees

In addition to his focus on agricultural issues, Reifel was dedicated to improving educational opportunities for Native Americans. He opposed segregation in educational settings and believed that the key to overcoming the isolation faced by Native American communities lay in integrated educational programs. He advocated for initiatives that enrolled both American Indian and non-Indian students together in modern educational facilities, aligning with recommendations from the 1928 Meriam Report.

Throughout his congressional tenure, Reifel's dual focus on agriculture and education highlighted his commitment to addressing the needs of both his constituents and the broader Native American community. His work in Congress was characterized by a desire to promote policies that would enhance the quality of life for those he represented.

Reifel's legislative efforts and committee assignments allowed him to play a significant role in shaping policies that impacted both agricultural practices and Native American education. His tenure in the House of Representatives concluded on January 3, 1971, after five terms of service. Following his departure from Congress, Reifel continued to be recognized for his contributions to public service and his role as a pioneer for Native American representation in the U.S. government. He passed away on January 2, 1990, leaving behind a legacy as a notable figure in American politics and a champion for the rights and education of Native Americans.