Cecilia Fire Thunder

Cecilia Fire Thunder (born October 24, 1946, Pine Ridge, South Dakota) has worked as a nurse, and served as tribal president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe of South Dakota from her electoral win on November 2, 2004 up until her impeachment on June 29, 2006.

Family

She was born Cecilia Apple on October 24, 1946 on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. She is the daughter of the late Stephen and Lollie (Featherman) Apple, and the granddaughter of Frank and Theresa (Garcia)Apple and John and Mary (Ice) Featherman. Fire Thunder is the third born of seven sisters spaced four years apart: Shirley Murphy, Mary Hawk, Dinah Apple, Carmine RedEagle, Joanne Apple, and Wanda Apple (Wanda is deceased). Fire Thunder has two sons, James and John Fire Thunder, both of whom are the sons of Ben Fire Thunder.

Organizations and affiliations

She has been active in efforts to recover and revive use of the Lakota language. She was one of the original founders of the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS). She formerly worked for Cangleska, Inc., a domestic violence shelter.

Tribal Presidency

On November 2, 2004, she was elected as the first female leader of the Oglala Sioux. In 2005 she was suspended from her position on the council for 66 days, under impeachment proceedings initiated under allegations associated with a US$38 million loan for the Tribe. She was returned to her position when the complaint was dismissed by the council on December 30.

She became the subject of wide public attention in March 2006 for her declaration of intent to create a Planned Parenthood clinic on her own land. This was in response to the passing of State legislation banning virtually all abortions within South Dakota. With the sovereign independence of Indian reservations in the United States promised by the federal government, the territory would not be subject to state laws.

On May 31, 2006, it was reported that Fire Thunder was again suspended from her duties as president by the Oglala Sioux tribal Council. In addition, the Council issued a ban on all abortions on tribal land.

A month after her suspension, on June 29, 2006, Fire Thunder was impeached from her duties as Tribal President. Six charges were made against Fire Thunder, the most topical being that she organized the aforementioned clinic outside of her authority as president and that she didn't consult with the council about the project and get their permission. Other charges were that Fire Thunder used the media, the U.S. Post Office and the Oglala Sioux Tribe to solicit funds for the clinic.

Fire Thunder has said that she will challenge the impeachment decision.

On June 30, 2006, Alex White Plume assumed the role of President Pro Tem, which he held until the November 2006 election.

References

*http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/content.cfm?id=1096413261
* [http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2005/12/18/news/opinion/opin02.txt Rapid City Journal: Sam Hurst, 12-18: Cecilia Fire Thunder a 'person of character']
* [http://www.tiyospayenow.blogspot.com/2006/07/fire-thunder-impeachment-and-rights-of.html TiyospayeNow: Fire Thunder Impeachment and the Rights of Women]
*http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096409864
*http://www.indianz.com/News/2004/005169.asp
*http://www.indianz.com/News/2004/004905.asp
*http://www.indiancountrynews.com/fullstory.cfm?ID=132
*http://www.unpo.org/news_detail.php?arg=35&par=3479
*http://www.rlnn.com/ArtJan06/PresidentFireThunderReinstated.html
*http://www.wellnations.com/v6i2st2.html
* [http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060531/NEWS/605310319/1001/NLETTER01&theme= Argus Leader: Tribal council outlaws abortion]
* [http://indybay.org/newsitems/2006/06/15/18280789.php?show_comments=1#18280850 Abortion Banned On Pine Ridge, Cecilia Fire Thunder Removed From Presidency]