Former Eastern Shoshone Business Council member begins campaign for State House

FREMONT COUNTY, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) – Eastern Shoshone tribal member Ivan Posey has announced his bid to represent House District 33 in the Wyoming State Legislature. He says he wants to keep Wyoming’s issues local, and prioritize those that affect his constituents.

He explains, “Whether that’s ranching, farming, tribal issues, or whatever… I intend to listen to  people and see if I can carry their message forward.”

Born and raised in Fort Washakie, Posey currently works as the tribal education coordinator at Central Wyoming College. In addition to being a veteran, he has contributed decades of public service to the Eastern Shoshone tribe, including serving 21 years on the tribe’s Business Council.

Posey describes himself as a ‘conservative democrat’. He says he decided to run to bring tribal matters to the state level and help find solutions to issues that affect communities across Wyoming, including substance abuse and healthcare access.

House District 33 is located in Fremont County, encompassing part of the Wind River Reservation. If elected, Posey will be the only Indigenous representative in the House. He hopes that Native representation in the Legislature will strengthen the relationship between tribal communities and government agencies.

He says, “I’m a Wyomingite, my ancestors were in Wyoming before Wyoming was a state. That is something that is very important, that we need to be sitting at the table and least have a voice.”

Posey will be running against incumbent Sarah Penn for the House seat this fall.

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