Heather Dawn Thompson facts for kids

Heather Dawn Thompson is a lawyer from the Lakota people, specifically from the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. She works for the United States government in a special role. She is the Director of Tribal Relations for the United States Department of Agriculture. This means she helps connect Native American tribes with the government's farming and food programs.

Her work focuses on laws that affect Native American tribes. She helps tribes become stronger and develop their economies. This includes things like online business, trade with other countries, and energy projects. She also helps tribes build their own governments and legal systems. She works with businesses, tribes, and groups that support Native Americans. Heather went to a famous school called Harvard Law School. She did very well there.

Heather Thompson's Career

Before her current job, Heather worked as a lawyer for the U.S. government. She was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in South Dakota. She worked in the section that deals with Native American lands.

Heather is known for her work at the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI). This is the oldest and largest group that brings different Native American tribes together. She was the Director of Government Affairs there. She also advised the United States Senate on laws about Native Americans. Heather has traveled and worked in many countries around the world. She often gives talks about Native American laws and issues.

Heather has led several important legal groups. She was the president of the National Native American Bar Association (NNABA). She also led the DC Native American Bar Association (NABA-DC). Currently, she is the president of the South Dakota Indian Country Bar Association (SDICBA).

About Heather's Life

Heather Thompson lives in the Black Hills in South Dakota. She also spends time in Washington, D.C. She is an official member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. She can speak English, Spanish, and the Lakota language.