"Far from Manhattan, in a corner of South Dakota, Cecelia Fire Thunder is the first woman elected president of the 40,000-member Oglala Sioux tribe.

Regardless of whether state voters overturn a legislative ban on abortions, she says she will open a clinic to teach young women, on and off the rez, about choices.

"We have failed to provide options to these women," she says, many impregnated too young by older men under the influence of drugs or alcohol. "We have been negligent in training them about contraception, because the best solution to abortion is to not get pregnant.

"I made my first choice for my body when I was 22 and decided I wanted no more children," she tells me. She had two sons and an unhappy marriage but was too busy and poor to end it.

"I used an IUD, a Lippes loop," says Fire Thunder, a former nurse, "and it worked. I've been making decisions for my body ever since."

Finally, I ask about her name, which one woman on the Web vowed to give to her firstborn daughter. She laughs with gusto and admits, "Fire Thunder was my ex-husband's name. I liked it, so I kept it."

Another smart, powerful choice."

Get the Story:
SUSAN AGER: Strong women, in the city and on the plains (The Detroit Free Press 4/6)

Relevant Links:
Oglala Sioux Tribe - http://www.lakotamall.com/oglalasiouxtribe

Related Stories:
Fire Thunder plans women's clinic on reservation (3/31)
Opinion: Oglala Sioux to massacre their children (3/29)
Fire Thunder vows fight for women's health rights (3/28)
Fire Thunder joins fight against state abortion law (3/27)
Fire Thunder creates stir with abortion law comments (3/24)
Giago: Oglala Sioux president on state abortion law (03/21)
Fire Thunder reinstated as Oglala Sioux president (01/09)
Fire Thunder removal hearing delayed a second time (12/20)
Opinion: The life story of Cecilia Fire Thunder (12/19)
Fire Thunder removal hearing delayed a week (12/13)
Oglala Sioux president confident of future (10/31)
Pine Ridge president suspended by council (10/26)
Fire Thunder: 'At times I feel like George Bush' (10/21)
Pine Ridge president disputes latest complaint (10/18)
Pine Ridge president faces another complaint (10/17)
Oglala Lakota College assumes control of Head Start (09/20)
Cecelia Fire Thunder survives suspension complaint (07/01)
Oglala Sioux Tribe secures $38M loan from tribe (06/20)
Hearing into Fire Thunder suspension delayed (6/14)
Fire Thunder defends record in advance of hearing (6/10)
Hearing set on suspension of Oglala Sioux president (6/8)
Oglala Sioux Tribe president has not been suspended (6/3)
Means loses lawsuit against Oglala Sioux election (03/09)
Oglala Sioux Tribe inaugurates Cecilia Fire Thunder (12/13)
Russell Means sues after losing Pine Ridge election (12/03)
Pressure is on Fire Thunder as Pine Ridge president (11/15)
Fire Thunder credits women for Pine Ridge victory (11/08)
Fire Thunder calls election at Pine Ridge symbolic (11/4)
Cecilia Fire Thunder declared winner at Pine Ridge (11/3)
Harjo: Pine Ridge election about character (10/29)
Russell Means arrested for missing court date (10/25)
Pine Ridge Election: Profile of Russell Means (10/22)
Pine Ridge Election: Profile of Cecilia Fire Thunder (10/21)
Russell Means, Fire Thunder to debate in Pine Ridge (10/18)
AIM leader, nurse face off in Pine Ridge election (10/8)
Russell Means top vote-getter in Pine Ridge primary (10/7)
Means says South Dakota GOP needs to do more (8/9)