Representative Peri Pourier

Peri Pourier is an American attorney and politician serving as a Republican member of the South Dakota House of Representatives representing the 27th district, which includes Bennett, Haakon, Jackson, Oglala Lakota, and Pennington counties.

Pourier is a member of the Oglala tribal group and resides in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. She is a United States Navy veteran with eight years of service as an Intelligence Analyst, during which she received numerous commendations for providing insight into complex socio-cultural issues and counterterrorism matters.

Political Experience

Pourier was elected to the South Dakota House of Representatives in November 2018 and assumed office on January 8, 2019. She initially served as a Democrat but switched to the Republican Party in September 2025.

She serves on the House Committee on State-Tribal Relations and the House Committee on Taxation. Most notably, Pourier championed the establishment of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Liaison office under the South Dakota Attorney General's Office, the first of its kind in the United States. She has also served as Chair of the Native American Caucus of the South Dakota Democratic Party and is a fierce advocate for improved healthcare and addressing inequalities among Native American communities.

Education and Background

Prior to her political career, Pourier worked as a background investigator and later as an entrepreneur and small business owner. She has been a member of the American Board for Certification in Homeland Security since 2010.