 Born in St. Ignatius, Montana, Sands obtained a B.A.in Anthropology from the University of Montana before doing graduate work at George Washington University in Washington, D.C..

Sands began her career in the Montana State Legislature in 1996, when she was appointed as the Democratic nominee for the House of Representatives in the 66th district.The previous nominee, incumbent Rep. Mike Kadas, had just been appointed Mayor of Missoula following the resignation of Daniel Kemmis.