Funeral Service for Michael Ira Selvage Sr., Hehaka Duzahan "Swift Elk", 71, will be held on March 9, 2025 at 10:00 A.M. at the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribal Rotunda, Agency Village, SD officiating will be Spiritual Leaders Dennis Gill and John Eagle.  Drum Group will be Big Stone Singers.  There will be a Traditional Service on Saturday, March 8, 2025 starting at 6:00 P.M. at the Lake Traverse District Center, Sisseton, SD. Military Rites by the United Veterans Association.  Pallbearers will be Johnny German Jr., Bruce German, Jack Powers, Sabre Selvage, Jaden Selvage, Gage Redthunder, Aiden Selvage, and Michael Selvage III. Honorary Pall Bearers will be Butch Felix, Dustina Gill, Paula Horne & Arvol Lookinghorse, Myrna Thompson & Jake Thompson, John Eagle, Dave Louis, Peggy King, Kathryn Akipa, Debbie Crawford, Nadine Fredricks, Geraldine Opsal, Lillian Wanna, Russell Hawkins, Susan Thompson, Jenny Thompson, Dennis Gill, Wanda Thompson, Bryan Akipa, Jesse & Terri Larsen, Guy Powers, Francis Crawford, Iris Keoke, Katie McKay, Zelma Flute, Linda Onstad, Mindy Ridout, Dave Muchow, Ron DuMarce, Ervin DuMarce, Dina Canku, Colleen Eastman, Donnie Eastman, Catherine Thompson, Angie Marshall. Inurnment will be in the Lake Traverse Presbyterian Cemetery, Sisseton, South Dakota. Cahill Funeral is in charge of arrangements.

Michael Ira Selvage, Sr., Hehaka Duzahan was born September 2, 1954 to Maxine DuMarce and Gerald Selvage in Sisseton, SD. Michael attended Browns Valley Elementary, then spent the rest of his school years as an exchange student in Bountiful, Utah. He returned home to his mother and siblings after graduating from Bountiful High School in 1972. Michael enlisted in the United States Army in 1973 where he was a Preventive Medicine Specialist stationed in Korea. After he was honorably discharged from the Army in 1975, Michael attended Brigham Young University in Provo Utah.  In 1976, Michael was united in marriage to Donna Bursheim, and they made their home in Sisseton, SD. Their family grew when they welcomed sons Michael Jr. and Tilmer Kenneth. In 1979, Michael became injured and spent time healing in Minneapolis, MN and later in Milwaukee, Wi. During this time, he met Keri Hoeft and they were united in marriage and later separated. After extensive physical and occupational therapy, Michael returned home and began working at the Tribal Realty Department and later served as a councilman from the Lake Traverse District. He accepted employment in the Tribal Planning Department where he was a part of the group that returned the buffalo herd to our community. Michael was elected as Tribal Secretary in 1988 and served in this role for two terms. Repatriation of our ancestors remains was vital for Secretary Selvage,  and when NAGPRA passed in 1990, he quickly completed the repatriation request. The SWO was the second tribe in the nation to repatriate ancestors under NAGPRA. As Tribal Secretary, Michael became concerned with the lack of resources shared with our young ones so he initiated the very first "school clothes money" distribution, which still exists.

In 2006 Michael decided to run for Tribal Chairman and he served two terms as Itancan of the Sisitonwan-Wahpetonwan Oyate.  Michael's motivation was his loyalty, compassion and love for his people.  While Chairman Selvage was in office he and Tribal Council along with his staff completed many projects which were largely infrastructure. The most notable are the Tribal Administration Building, Woodrow Wilson Healthcare Center with 62 staff housing units, Elderly Nutrition Center, new housing at Barker Hill and Long Hollow, and new district centers for all 7 districts. In 2008, Tribal Council under Chairman Selvages' leadership declared the Dakota language as our original language and laid the framework for the language revitalization projects that exist today. After leaving elected office, Michael spent much of his time as a tribal historian and genealogist, visiting important historical sites and museums for research. In 2018 Michael moved to the Veterans Home in Fergus Falls, MN where he quickly became one of the favorites among the staff and made lots of good friends. He enjoyed spending time doing research and exploring the community. Michael fell ill in February 2024, and with his strong spirit he fought hard for over a year to overcome his illness, but Creator called his spirit back on March 5, 2025 at the Regions Hospital, St. Paul, Mn. We will miss him immensely but know that it was a joyous reunion with all of his relatives that went before him.

Michael is survived by his sons, Michael Jr. (Consuelo) and Tilmer (Nadine), his sister, Audrey (DelRay) German, brothers David Redthunder, Guy (Diana) Canku all of Sisseton. Brother John (Mary Terese) White of Albuquerque, NM and sister Denyce Carillo of Auburn, CA. Grandchildren Sidney, Paige, Aja, Aiden, Michael III, Valencia, Ira, Ari, Aaliyah, Logan and Liam, Shalaine, Sabre, Saden, Serena, Sage, Tehya, and Azalea, 3 great grandchildren Jaxon, Michaela and Emeryss, and a whole bunch of very grateful nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.

Michael is preceeded in death by his mother and father, his adopted father Ed RedOwl, sister Sandra, nieces Maya Ihawin, Camille Joy, nephews Aaron John and Simon Matthew.