MISSOULA — Many gathered at the Native American Payne Center on Wednesday to honor the late Elouise Cobell, a respected member of the Blackfeet Nation whose groundbreaking legal work made history for Indigenous communities.

Cobell led the historic class action lawsuit known as Cobell versus Salazar , the largest case of its kind for Native tribes. The suit challenged the U.S. Department of the Interior over the mismanagement of billions of dollars in Indian trust assets that belonged to Native people.

After more than a decade, that case resulted in a landmark settlement of $3.4 billion, securing justice for Native communities across the country.

Watch to learn more about the celebration: University of Montana honors Elouise Cobell, Blackfeet Nation leader who won $3.4 billion settl

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