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USA Today Woman of the Year Erica Thunder, ’11, ’14

Erica Thunder has dedicated her life to being an advocate for fellow Indigenous people across the country, earning her the honor of being named among USA TODAY’s Women of the Year for the state of North Dakota.

She has been North Dakota’s Commissioner of Labor and Human Rights since June 3, 2019, enforcing the state’s labor and human rights laws and educating the public about them.

She previously served as judicial systems administrator for the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission, working to improve relationships with state, tribal and federal agencies. She also served as a staff attorney for the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation in western North Dakota as well as the Ho-Chunk Nation in Wisconsin, where she also served as project facilitator for its Department of Social Services.

Most recently, she served as the Interim Executive Director of the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission, in addition to her role as commissioner.

Erica grew up in the Turtle Mountains of North Dakota, attending school in Bottineau. At UND, she earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a law degree and Indian law certificate from the UND School of Law, where she was vice president of the Criminal Law Association and secretary of the Student Bar Association.

Thunder is an enrolled member of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation. Her tribal and spiritual name is “Te Hinuk,” which translates to “Lady of the Lake.” \\\