Cecilia Fire Thunder facts for kids

South Dakota Little Wound School students hold round table discussions on their vision of the future that Tribal elder Cecilia Fire Thunder facilitated.

Cecilia Fire Thunder (born Cecilia Apple; October 24, 1946) is a nurse, health planner, and important leader of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. On November 2, 2004, she made history as the first woman elected president of her Tribe. She served until June 29, 2006, when she was removed from office early.

Cecilia Fire Thunder helped start health clinics in California. Later, she helped create the Oglala Lakota Women's Society. She has also worked at a shelter for people experiencing domestic abuse. Today, she helps lead the Native Women's Society of the Great Plains.

Early Life and Education

Cecilia Apple was born on October 24, 1946, on the Pine Ridge Reservation. She was the third of seven daughters. Her father was a farmer, and her mother was a "culture-keeper," meaning she helped keep their traditions alive. Her family spoke the Lakota language at home.

When Cecilia attended the Catholic Red Cloud Indian School, she was not allowed to speak Lakota in class. In 1963, her family moved to Los Angeles, California. This was part of a program by the Bureau of Indian Affairs to help Native Americans find jobs and education in cities.

Before returning to the reservation, Cecilia became a single mother. A social worker helped her join a nursing program. After passing her state tests, she began her career in health care. In 1986, Cecilia returned to the Pine Ridge Reservation. There, she was given the Lakota name "Good Hearted Woman" for her work helping Native Americans with their health.

Family Life

Cecilia Apple married John Fire Thunder in Los Angeles. They had two sons, James and John Fire Thunder. She also has two granddaughters, Katie and Hannah. Cecilia and John divorced after their sons were born.

Working for Her Community

As a young nurse in California, Cecilia Fire Thunder helped create health clinics. She started clinics in Los Angeles and San Diego. She even convinced doctors from big universities to volunteer their time.

In 1986, after more than 20 years away, Cecilia returned to the Pine Ridge Reservation. She began working at the Bennett County Hospital. She also helped start the Oglala Lakota Women's Society.

Cecilia is a native Lakota speaker. She has worked hard to help young people and adults learn and use the Lakota language again. She believes the language is a very important part of their culture. She also joined the National Congress of American Indians. Here, she discussed issues facing Native people and ways to improve policies.

Becoming a Tribal President

On November 2, 2004, Cecilia Fire Thunder was elected as the first female president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. She won against other well-known leaders, including Russell Means, a famous activist. Her term was supposed to last two years.

In 2005, the tribal council temporarily suspended her for 66 days. They started a process to remove her from office. This was because of questions about how she handled tribal money, specifically a large loan. Cecilia Fire Thunder said the accusations were false. She stated she had openly discussed the loan to help the tribe's finances. The complaint was later dismissed, and she returned to her position.

Challenges as President

The process to remove Cecilia Fire Thunder from office began again on June 29, 2006. She faced several accusations from tribal council members. During this time, she was told she could not conduct tribal business. She was also not allowed to discuss her case with the media.

There was a time when a TV personality made disrespectful comments about her name and her tribe. Cecilia was not able to respond to these comments because of the rules set by the tribal council.

During the process, Cecilia felt she had not been given enough time to respond to the accusations. She believed she had not done anything wrong. She read from a passage about responsibility and accountability. However, the trial ended with her being removed from office. She was not allowed to serve the last five months of her term.

Lasting Impact

Cecilia Fire Thunder's election as the first female president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe was a big step. Because of her leadership and work on women's issues, she is often asked to speak. She shares her experiences and talks about Lakota women.

• March 2010: She spoke at New York University for Women's History Month.
• September 2010: She spoke at the Tribal Leaders Summit in North Dakota. Here, she discussed domestic violence and helping children.