In Gathering Blue, why is it important and how does it help Kira that she is a strong and independant lady?

I am assuming that we are talking about internal strength
here, as obviously, Kira, through her disability, is not externally strong, and is
regarded as something of a liability to her tribe, as the way that her mother had to
protect her from being killed at birth made clear. However, Kira definitely does not
lack in internal strength, and owes her survival to the way that she is able to draw
upon such internal traits and defy externally strong characters such as Vandara and
Jamison. Clearly, the series of revelations that Kira discovers during the course of the
novel and her ability to cope with them also show considerable internal strength.
However, most importantly is her decision to not leave the community with her father and
to stay with Thomas, Jo and Matt and somehow weave a new future for her people. Not to
take the easy escape and to remain fighting for her right to express her art and talent
in the way it was meant shows massive internal strength. Note how the following quote
refers to this:

readability="8">

She could feel the future through her hands, in
the pictures her hands were urging her to make. She could feel the broad undecorated
expanse waiting, across the shoulders of the
robe.

Kira's ability and
inner strength gives her the fortitude she needs to reject the easy, safe option of
leaving with her father and remaining to face the uncertain future under the power of
the Council of Guardians, who maintain control by lies and deceit, and probably killed
her mother and Annabella.