Pine Ridge Indian Reservation Cecelia Fire Thunder

Russell Means Loses OST Presidential Bid to Cecelia Fire Thunder
By Melanie Grinnell, The Native Voice Staff Writer

PINE RIDGE – The hope of Oglala Sioux Tribal members now lies within a new administration that will go down in history before they even officially take office.

Cecelia Fire Thunder is slated to be the first woman to ever be elected Tribal President.

Her opponent, Russell Means received 2,103 votes and Fire Thunder had 2,725 votes, with 533 challenge votes.

During the primary election earlier this year, two other women, Anita Ecoffey and Theresa Two Bulls also vied for the position but didn’t make it into the general election.

Means entered the general election by receiving the most votes in the primary election over Fire Thunder.

In the race for Tribal Vice-President, Alex White Plume, Sr. had the most votes with 2,853 over Eileen Janis’ 1,986 votes for that position.

Fire Thunder’s tribal council also changed players with more than half of its members replacing the previous administration’s council.

The unofficial election results for the election of district representatives were posted on the Lakota Mall website, but were subject to change at press time, as the votes were still being tallied.

The Eagle Nest district re-elected Ruth Brown with 206 votes, but the majority favored Thomas Poor Bear with 248 votes.

Craig Dillon won by acclamation in the primary election with more than 50 percent of the votes from the Lacreek District. Community members there chose Mary “Moose” Poor Thunder as their other representative with 180 votes over Gerald L. Bettelyoun’s 128 votes.

In the Medicine Root District, Juanita Scherich was re-elected with 335 votes and Austin Watkins had 362 votes, however, 104 challenge votes may change those circumstances and replace either of them with Sandra E. Old Horse’s 271 votes or Charles White Elk’s 292 votes.

The Pass Creek District re-elected Lydia Bear Killer with 185 votes, but 49 challenge votes could possibly add to Donna Saloman’s 164 votes and replace her.

The biggest changeover in the tribal council was with the Pine Ridge Village, whose only incumbent, Lyle Jack was voted back in by 415 votes. Will Peters received 490 votes and Ella “John” Carlow had the most votes overall with 500. There are 49 challenge votes in that district, not enough to make a significant difference between Jack’s votes and Gerald “Jump” Big Crow who received 355 votes.

Philip Good Crow and Bernard White Face were elected by the Porcupine District with 305 and 266 votes respectively. Once again, 53 challenge votes may change that decision and put David Pourier in White Face’s place if he receives most of those challenge votes.

The largest district on the reservation, the Wakpamni district, elected two former councilmen from a past administration, Walter Big Crow by 322 votes and Tom Conroy with 309.Wakpamni had one of the closest races for council with Maxine Lakota receiving 308 votes and Herb Colhoff with 302 votes. There are 71 challenge votes that may also sway that decision once the results become official.

Another close race for council was in the White Clay district. Floyd Brings Plenty had 250 votes and Paul Little received 270 votes. Incumbent Valerie Kills Small-Janis will serve another term with 259 votes and Delores Ten Fingers-Two Bulls had 197. About 68 challenge votes will decide that race also.

The Wounded Knee District elected two new council members, Garfield Steele with 288 votes and Kathy Janis with 321. There are 58 challenge votes that are not very likely to change those choices.

Overall, approximately 60 percent of all registered voters on the reservation turned out at the polls. Pine Ridge, Manderson and Martin had the largest voter turnout percentages.

The results of the election will be finalized after press time. As the challenge votes are being tallied, some of the district selections may change.

In a previous debate on the reservation, Fire Thunder challenged her future tribal council to put more effort into seeking solutions and financial resources for tribal members’ concerns and tribal programs by focusing on a single issue.

Prior to winning the presidency, she worked as a nurse at one time and served as the director for Cangleska, Inc., a domestic abuse prevention and educational program on the reservation.

Fire Thunder was not available to comment on her win at press time.