AFFIE ELLIS
Wyoming's first Navajo and Native American State Senator
Wyoming's first Navajo and Native American State Senator, Affie Ellis in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Her squash blossom necklace was made by her grandfather, Tom Burnside.
“These moments matter, because when you’re taking a vote, and when you’re thinking about how decisions affect people, you remember standing on their doorstep. I feel strongly about making that connection with folks.”
Listen to Affie's Story.
Affie Ellis was born to a working-class family in Jackson, Wyoming and spent weekends cleaning motel rooms with her mother, Lenora. Affie says she “wouldn’t trade that experience for anything,” because it taught her life long lessons of perseverance, hard work, a desire to better herself, and give back to others.
In January 2017, Affie was elected to her first term as a Wyoming legislature. She is the first Navajo and first Native American person to serve in the Wyoming State Senate. Affie is adamant that her rise to public office is a job that does not encompass her entire identity. A lawyer and mom of three, Affie is committed to doing the best work possible for Wyoming.
As a state Senator she has worked on legislation related to a variety of Native American issues, including enactment of laws to address the epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) and a state Indian Child Welfare Act law. She’s passionate about improving education in Wyoming, supporting legislation for the passing of computer science standards for all K-12 students, expanding scholarship opportunities for career and technical education students, and establishing a scholarship to provide financial assistance for adult learners to fill workforce needs. She’s also passed laws to protect evidence collected during sexual assault examinations. Affie was re-elected to the Wyoming State Senate in 2020.
Affie's story of success is one of self-starting and stepping up.
“I think there are talented people all across the state, but unless and until there’s an open seat, they don’t even think about running. I certainly hope I never start thinking that way, because people can and they will rise up.”
Affie with her late parents, Jim & Lenore Burnside, at her dad's welding shop in Jackson, Wyoming.
“When I ran for the legislature, I knew that it would be a journey of self-growth and becoming the person you really want to be. Which is someone who understands the severity of the decisions we make, respects the chamber we serve in, and knows that it’s greater than and will long outlast me and my time on this earth.”
Wyoming State Senator Affie Ellis.
