Former prison guard alleges he was called 'prairie n*****' in retaliation lawsuit

Native American man says he was fired for complaining about discrimination

A former corrections officer at the Mike Durfee State Prison has filed suit against several Department of Corrections’ officials, claiming he was fired after complaining about racial discrimination and harassment.

Dallas Tronvold was relieved of duties last March, he says in the lawsuit, after he had started sending “good faith” communications in July 2021 to senior DOC officials documenting the harassment and discrimination he was receiving. Tronvold is an enrolled member of the Yankton Sioux Tribe.

After being hired in October of 2020, Tronvold alleges that he was subjected to discrimination by coworkers, including being called a “prairie n****,” and snide comments about getting “Indian monies” and free health care because of his status as a Native American.

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