Cecilia Fire Thunder, the president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, faces impeachment and a lawsuit over her plan to open an abortion clinic on the Pine Ridge Reservation.
William Birdnecklace, an attorney, says tribal law protects unborn infants. Last week, he filed an injunction in tribal court against the abortion clinic and an impeachment complaint with the tribal council.
Last year, Fire Thunder was the target of an impeachment complaint filed by Birdnecklace, a former tribal employee. After being suspended for 68 days, the council rejected the charges this past January.
Fire Thunder, a nurse, plans to open the Sacred Choices Clinic to provide women's health services. She is advocating the idea on her own, not as an official action of the tribe.
Get the Story:Legality of reservation clinic is questioned (AP 4/9)
South Dakota Indian Abortion Business May Violate Pro-Life Tribal Law (LifeNews.com 4/9) aRelevant Links:
Oglala Sioux Tribe - http://www.lakotamall.com/oglalasiouxtribe Related Stories:
Column: Fire Thunder, strong woman on the plains (4/6)
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)