Patrice Kunesh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Patrice Kunesh
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| Commissioner of the Administration for Native Americans | |
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Incumbent
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| Assumed office March 8, 2023 |
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| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Jeannie Hovland |
| Personal details | |
| Education | Colorado State University (BA) University of Colorado Boulder (JD) Harvard University (MPA) |
Patrice H. Kunesh is an American lawyer, teacher, and government leader. She is from the Standing Rock Lakota people. Since March 2023, Ms. Kunesh has been the Commissioner of the Administration for Native Americans. This is a government office that helps Native American communities. She was also nominated to lead the National Indian Gaming Commission. This group oversees gaming (like casinos) on Native American lands.
Contents
About Patrice Kunesh
Her Early Life and Education
Patrice Kunesh is a descendant of the Standing Rock Lakota tribe. Her mother is a registered member of the tribe. Ms. Kunesh has said that her mother and grandfather inspired her to help Native Americans.
Her grandfather was born on a reservation in 1903. He moved with his mother to Saint Paul, Minnesota. He faced many challenges and later moved to Alaska to find work. Her father was a lawyer who worked in St. Cloud, Minnesota. He served as a county and city attorney.
Patrice Kunesh studied French language and literature at Colorado State University. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree there. She then got her law degree, called a Juris Doctor, from the University of Colorado Law School. Later, she earned a Master of Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School. This degree helps people learn how to manage public organizations.
Her Career Journey
From 1989 to 1995, Ms. Kunesh worked as a lawyer for the Native American Rights Fund. This group works to protect the rights of Native Americans. From 1994 to 2005, she was a legal advisor for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe in Connecticut.
She was also a special fellow at the Bush Foundation for one year. From 2005 to 2011, she taught law as a professor at the University of South Dakota School of Law.
Working for the Government
From 2011 to 2013, she worked for the United States Department of the Interior. She was a deputy solicitor, which means she helped with legal advice for the department. She also served as a Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development at the United States Department of Agriculture. This role involved helping rural areas grow and develop.
From 2015 to 2020, Ms. Kunesh led the Center for Indian Country Development. This center is part of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. It focuses on helping Native American communities with their economies. In 2020, she rejoined the Native American Rights Fund to help with their development efforts. Ms. Kunesh also started her own company, Peȟíŋ Haha Consulting. This company helps Native communities with their economic growth.
Her Role in the Biden Administration
On June 22, 2022, President Joe Biden chose Ms. Kunesh for a big role. He nominated her to be the Commissioner for the Administration for Native Americans. On March 8, 2023, the United States Senate approved her nomination. She became the commissioner after a vote of 57 to 35.
On July 23, 2024, President Biden nominated Ms. Kunesh again. This time, he chose her to be the Chairwoman of the National Indian Gaming Commission. The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) has supported her for this position.
Her Family Life
Patrice Kunesh's sister, Mary Kunesh, is also involved in public service. She is a member of the Minnesota Senate, which is part of the state government.
