Cecilia Fire Thunder, the president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, has created a buzz among pro-choice groups for her comments on the state of South Dakota's extremely restrictive abortion law.

Fire Thunder told columnist Tim Giago that the state has no right to tell women what to do with their bodies. She said she would open a Planned Parenthood clinic on the Pine Ridge Reservation in order to ensure women have the right to exercise their choices.

�To me, it is now a question of sovereignty,� she told Giago in a column he published earlier this week.

The column was picked up by several pro-choice groups, who have pledged financial and other support for Fire Thunder's plan. "She was frankly kind of surprised that a white girl from Seattle was calling to express support, and even more surprised that the news had spread so far so fast," one blogger said [Link].

The new state law, which faces legal challenges, bars all abortions except to save a woman's life. State attorney general Larry Long, who has fought tribes on sovereignty issues, claims the state could theoretically enforce the law in Indian Country, but only against non-Indian women who receive abortions by non-Indian doctors.

Get the Story:
South Dakota's abortion ban has sweeping implications (Indian Country Today 3/24)
Oglala Sioux president mulls opening Planned Parenthood clinic (The Rapid City Weekly 3/21)

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

Related Stories:
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)