14 <strong>Confederated</strong> <strong>Umatilla</strong> Journal<strong>November</strong> <strong>2011</strong>
Cobell remembered as Native American warriorFriends, family ga<strong>the</strong>rto remember Blackfeetwoman who discoveredgovernment’s ineptitudeBy <strong>the</strong> <strong>CUJ</strong>and MATT VOLZ, Associated PressBROWNING, Montana - ElouiseCobell was remembered as a warriorwhose compassion and grit drove herto dedicate <strong>the</strong> last 16 years <strong>of</strong> her life toholding <strong>the</strong> U.S. government accountablefor billions lost or stolen from her fellowNative Americans.Friends, family and American <strong>Indian</strong>leaders ga<strong>the</strong>red in <strong>the</strong> high school gymnasiumon <strong>the</strong> Blackfeet <strong>Indian</strong> Reservationfor a funeral Mass for Cobell, whodied Oct. 16 <strong>of</strong> cancer. She was 65.Larry Echo Hawk, <strong>the</strong> Interior Department’sassistant secretary for <strong>Indian</strong> affairs,read a letter from Interior SecretaryKen Salazar that said Cobell was ``asignificant force for change.’’ Her work inbringing about a $3.4 billion settlement forhundreds <strong>of</strong> thousands <strong>of</strong> American <strong>Indian</strong>shonorably resolves something thathas weighed on <strong>the</strong> American consciencefor more than a century, Echo Hawk said.Under <strong>the</strong> settlement, <strong>the</strong> U.S. governmentwould pay up to 500,000 NativeAmericans for mismanaging <strong>the</strong>iraccounts, buy up fractionated land andturn it over to <strong>the</strong> tribes and establish acollege scholarship fund.Cobell was born on <strong>the</strong> reservationwith <strong>the</strong> <strong>Indian</strong> name Yellow Bird Woman,<strong>the</strong> great-granddaughter <strong>of</strong> famousElouise Pepion Cobell - Inokesquetee saki - Yellowbird WomanIt was undeniable <strong>the</strong> amount <strong>of</strong> love,determination and strength it took ElouiseCobell to battle <strong>the</strong> U.S. government, cancerand conditions many have never experienced.What I witnessed attending herfuneral was <strong>the</strong> loss <strong>of</strong> a great Mom, Auntieand friend to so many people. I couldn’t helpbut admire all her family strength in paying<strong>the</strong>ir respects to her on that day. I kept hearing“El is with us today” and I felt it too.Elouise almost made it to her 66th birthday.Indeed her cake would have Elvis ontop. Her message was clear, move forward,keep fighting, and don’t give up. So I won’t.As Cobell Land Specialist, I feel like Elouisehad a hand in sending me in <strong>the</strong> direction Iam moving toward. As a good friend <strong>of</strong> herPepion family, I want to extend my condolencesto everyone I met in Birch Creek.They said El planned to plan, with every<strong>Indian</strong> leader Mountain Chief. She saidshe heard stories even as a child <strong>of</strong> howNative Americans were being cheatedout <strong>of</strong> royalties owed <strong>the</strong>m for <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong>ir land, which was held in trust by <strong>the</strong>Interior Department.After receiving an education in businessand accounting, Cobell and her husbandAlvin returned to <strong>the</strong> reservationand took up her life’s calling <strong>of</strong> helpingher tribe and neighbors manage <strong>the</strong>irfinances. She was <strong>the</strong> tribe’s treasurer for13 years. She also helped set up one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>first <strong>Indian</strong>-owned banks in <strong>the</strong> U.S., <strong>the</strong>Native American Bank, and was executivedirector <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> bank’s nonpr<strong>of</strong>it affiliate,<strong>the</strong> Native American CommunityDevelopment Corp.As she looked more closely into <strong>the</strong>stories <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> mismanagement by <strong>the</strong> U.S.detail thought out. So, she went out like atrue warrior that she was, right down to <strong>the</strong>end when <strong>the</strong>y took her home to her ranch.People will continue to speak her namefor many years to come, it’d be hard notto. Her memory reminded me <strong>of</strong> my ownparents’ accomplishments. My dad, a foundingmember <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> CTUIR Board <strong>of</strong> Trusteesand first ever General Council Chair, and mymo<strong>the</strong>r, <strong>the</strong> General Council Secretary when<strong>the</strong> 1957 Census rolls were certified. If I had<strong>the</strong> opportunity to meet Elouise I know shewould be proud. Elouise Cobell brought itall full circle for me, why we do what we do- before we are leaders; one Native womanwith a heart <strong>of</strong> gold for her People.- Andrea Hall, CTUIR Land Aquisition Program/Probate- <strong>Indian</strong> Trust Settlement - Cobell, attended <strong>the</strong> Oct. 22funeral in Browning, Mont.government, she discovered <strong>the</strong>re wasno accounting <strong>of</strong> how much was owedbut that <strong>the</strong> lost and squandered moneycould amount to hundreds <strong>of</strong> billionsdating back to 1887.Then in 1996, she and four o<strong>the</strong>r NativeAmericans filed <strong>the</strong> class-action lawsuitthat in 2009 resulted in a $3.4 billionsettlement with <strong>the</strong> U.S. governmen.Cobell spent those years raising money,lobbying members <strong>of</strong> Congress and travelingacross <strong>the</strong> nation to meet with plaintiffs.She won a $300,000 ``genius grant’’ from<strong>the</strong> John D. and Ca<strong>the</strong>rine T. MacArthurFoundation in 1997 and used most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>money to help fund <strong>the</strong> lawsuit.The settlement was approved by Congressand signed by President BarackObama late last year but payments havebeen delayed until at least next year as<strong>the</strong> judge considers several appeals <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> settlement by potential beneficiaries.Just weeks before <strong>the</strong> judge’s approval,Cobell discovered she had cancer. Shedied Oct. 16 at a hospital in Great Falls.Dave Tovey, Executive Director for<strong>the</strong> <strong>Confederated</strong> <strong>Tribes</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Umatilla</strong><strong>Indian</strong> Reservation knew Cobell and hadthis to say with her passing:“Elouise was one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most graciousand generous individuals I’ve had <strong>the</strong>pleasure to know. As <strong>Umatilla</strong> was aproject site for <strong>the</strong> First Nations FinancialProject some 23 years ago, Elouisewas among a group <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir crew thatcollectively today are at <strong>the</strong> head if anynumber <strong>of</strong> <strong>Indian</strong> organizations. Shehad a hand in shaping <strong>the</strong> First Annual<strong>Indian</strong> Land Consolidation Conferencewe hosted in 1990. She told me stories<strong>of</strong> her days <strong>of</strong> research where Interior<strong>of</strong>ficials and staff in D.C. were showingup to work in minks and Cadillacs. Shetold me about lonely <strong>Indian</strong> widows inareas where huge royalties for oil andminerals should have benefitted <strong>the</strong>m butdidn’t. Like many <strong>of</strong> our proud people,<strong>the</strong>y were reluctant to even complain.Elouise was a warrior in every senseand she persevered in every way imaginable.I resented it when critics wouldsay she was going to get too much ortoo much for <strong>the</strong> team if attorneys thatworked for over 10 years for free or whatElouise could beg or borrow. It’s sadlyironic that she was so close to seeing <strong>the</strong>results <strong>of</strong> her life’s work, but not get tosee landowners get some considerationand compensation. But, its as if shefought, won, and only got to miss <strong>the</strong>final applause.”Locally Owned and Operated, Serving You Since 1999PendletonOregonT-shirts$10Sweatshirts$15See our apparel line at DGgifts.com(Click on <strong>the</strong> red shirt)Order from our store front and get FREE freight<strong>November</strong> <strong>2011</strong><strong>Confederated</strong> <strong>Umatilla</strong> Journal15