ILOC News

Elouise Cobell, 65, passed away Sunday night at Benefis Healthcare in Great Falls. She won a historic $3.4 billion settlement for Indian people due royalties from the federal government for the use of their lands. Cobell had pursued the case for 15 years prior to the settlement.

"She has accomplished more for the individual, I think, Native Americans, than any other person recently that I can think of in history," said U.S. Senior District Judge Thomas F. Hogan of Washington, DC, at a hearing in June on the settlement.

Granddaughter to legendary Indian leader Mountain Chief, Cobell was born on the Blackfeet Reservation on Nov. 5, 1946. She graduated from Great Falls Business College and received an honorary doctorate from Montana State University.

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