RED LAKE, Minn. – Born in California the oldest of seven children, Stacey Thunder watched her father struggle to provide for his family on a police officer’s salary while her mother stayed home to care for their children. Living through some challenging times, as a child Thunder didn’t like seeing her family depending on commodity foods to survive. Inspired by her parent’s struggle, she realized in high school that if she studied hard and went to college she could make a brighter future for herself.

Today, Thunder is in her 30s and mother to three children of her own. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in law from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minn.

During her junior year in college she took an internship with a personal injury law firm in Minneapolis and got to see first-hand how hard lawyers and their staff work to represent and advocate for their clients. Because of the positive experience she had there she decided to attend law school after graduating from Hamline.

Photo courtesy NCAIED Stacey Thunder (left) and Margo Gray-Proctor, chairwoman of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development. Thunder was honored with a Native American 40 Under 40 Award.

She attended the William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul and at one point questioned her decision to continue in the field. “I had a difficult time; it was the way of thinking that was so hard. Some of the cases we had to read dated back to the 1800s and were difficult to understand, boring and confusing. It wasn’t until I started studying for the bar exam that everything fell into place; I actually knew what the laws were about.”

After her first year of law school she had a clerkship with Anishinaabe Legal Services in Cass Lake, and her experience there was so fulfilling and rewarding she knew she found a place she belonged. “I decided that Indian country was the place for me. My clerkship convinced me to stick with it and get through law school. Sticking through law school and studying hard for the bar exam were challenges that I thought were going to break me. They also made me stronger. It was a really good life lesson in perseverance and strength and because of my experiences there I have become a stronger person today.” Thunder graduated in 1998 with her J.D. degree.

She enjoys speaking to tribal youth and her message to them is, “Shoot for the stars. Know there are challenges along the way but face them head on and know that each one will make you stronger and wiser.”

An Ojibwe from the Red Lake Nation and the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin, she has served Indian country in various legal capacities including positions with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Corporate Commission, the Indian Child Welfare Law Center and currently as the general counsel for the Red Lake Nation and Eagle Thunder Entertainment.

Thunder and her partner Robby Romero are the owners of Eagle Thunder Entertainment, which specializes in music, film, artist management and publishing. Artists represented by ETE are Romero, the Red Lake Singers, P. Town Boyz (a youth drum group from the Red Lake Reservation), Dakota Rene and Thunder.

ETE has reached millions of viewers and listeners through award-winning music releases, music videos, “rockumentary” films and public service announcements that have premiered at events such as the American Indian Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, Festival De Cannes, the Global Forum, United Nations, Clinton Global Initiative and have aired on cable networks such as VH1, MTV, CNN, the Sundance Channel and SABC Africa.

In addition to being a business owner and attorney, Thunder is also an actress. She is the host and co-producer of PBS’s educational Native news and lifestyle magazine program, “Native Report.” Now in its fifth season, the show is scheduled to premiere March 2010.

She also plays the recurring role of Judith Turandot in the Starz hit series, “Crash,” a drama series from the producers of the Academy Award winning Best Motion Picture starring Dennis Hopper. She made her debut on the series’ second season premier Sept. 18. Thunder also portrayed Julie in an independent feature length film called “Cold Feet,” a romantic comedy, and was also cast as the host and narrator of “Thunderstorm,” a 13-part documentary series.

Thunder has served as the vice president and board member of the Minnesota American Indian Bar Association and is co-founder of Native Thunder Distance Runners, where she ran two marathons to raise awareness of the need for better health in Indian country. She is now the executive director for Native Children’s Survival and is a board member of Nike’s N7 Fund providing grant money to Native American communities in support of physical activity and sports programs for youth.

Thunder, nominated by Margo Gray-Proctor, chairperson of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, was awarded the NCAIED Native American 40 Under 40 Award for her role in helping to shape the future of Indian country.

“I enjoy everything I do. There are other things I would love to do but my plate is very full right now and the challenge is balancing everything. I love being a mother and taking care of my family. I also have a lot of satisfaction in my career from being a lawyer, to helping my nation in a legal capacity as well as being a host on a TV show educating viewers about Indian country and the contributions we have made, and continue to make.”