Melissa's Current Event- American Indian Fund Elouise Cobell

On Sunday October 16, 2011, Blackfeet Native American Elouise Cobell had died. Elouise Cobell was an important woman in our countries history for representing a 16-year battle with the United States government for Indian Funds. Elouise was one Native American woman who spoke out when she heard that the United States government was not fulfilling its promise to allowing equal opportunities for education to Native Americans. One thing that caught her attention was when she saw that the Interior Department had failed to account for billions of dollars that they were supposed to collect on behalf of more than 300,000 of her fellow Native Americans. Because she did so, President Barak Obama was able to sign into law a piece of legislation that provided a measure of justice to those who were affected. The law, The American Indian College Fund creates a scholarship fund that gives Native Americans access to higher education and gives tribes more control over their own lands. Elouise was an important woman because she helped strengthen the government to government relationship with Indian Country and our nation’s promise of justice and opportunity for all.

As we have been learning in class about Native Americans and their history in our country, we know that education was a main issue that needed to be acknowledged and solved by our government. Throughout our country in the past 100 years, Native Americans have not had it very easy. The government came in and tried to change the ways of the Native Americans to better our country. In doing so they tried an issue called assimilation, which was proposed to take Native American children and force them into boarding schools which would result in civilizing them and removing the Indian. When they first thought of this idea they believed that it would be very successful and the Native American children would become well educated civilized Americans, but what actually happened was that they were destroying their culture and the education standards were not meeting up to their full potential. In later years, the United States government tried self-determination which allowed much more freedom for the Native Americans and gave them schools on the reservations; the only problem was that since they had their own communities on the reservations, they were now on their own. Even though the government was supposed to be funding for these schools and making sure they met the standards, this was not the case. This is what Elouise Cobell had noticed.

Cobell was an amzing woman in our history and by many she is kown as an inspiring leader. Larry Echo Hawk, Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs stated, “She was tireless in her efforts to reach a respectable resolution to the long-standing Cobell litigation. The Claims Resolution Act of 2010, signed into law by President Obama, will forever remain a testament to her colossal feat. Through her legacy, individual Indians will have more control over their lands and many American Indian and Alaska Natives will be able to pursue higher education through the scholarship component of the settlement.” This shows us how dedicated and how strongly Elouise committed her life to strengthening Indian country. Because of her efforts for this issue she also was responsible for the start of the American Indian College Fund that transforms Indians higher education by funding and creating awareness of the unique, community-based accredited Tribal Colleges and Universities, offering students access to knowledge, skills, and cultural values which enhance their communities and the country as a whole. The Fund disburses approximately 6,000 scholarships annually for American Indian students seeking to better their lives through higher education. This was such a big deal and is greatly appreciated by the American government and especially by Cobell’s Blackfeet Native American tribe in Montana, because it finally gives Native Americans the opportunity for a better education so they can succeed in life. Elouise Cobell is noticed and honored by many in our country today for being a Native American woman who had a voice and used it to say what was on her mind when she knew no one else would speak up. Many are truly upset about the loss, but know that what she had fought for over the years was well worth it because of such the impact she has had on society and everything she has done for her Native American people in bettering their lives. President and CEO of the American Indian College Fund, Richard B. Williams was one person who was especially sadden by the passing of Elouise Cobell and believed she was a warrior that embodied the Indian value of decision-making that considered seven generations into the future. He states that “The American Indian College Fund will be honoring Ms.Cobell this Thursday at the American Indian College Fund’s Flame of Hope Gala in Denver, Colorado, for ensuring that $60 million of the class action settlement she led be set aside for Native students to attend college and vocational school, bringing hope through education to American Indian people.” The work that Cobell had done was well known throughout the United States and was such a great accomplishment and really brought together the relationship between the government and the Indian country. What she had done has solved many of the problems this country has had over many years with Native Americans, but now they can be proud and thankful to finally be granted the same opportunities as everyone else and will have a better education. Elouise’s work will never be forgotten and she will always be known to our government as a hero; the woman who spoke up.

Question: Do you think that becuase of what Elouise Cobell has done, and by starting the American Indain College Fund, that Native Americans will now have all the opportunities they deserve? Will all Native Americans use this to their advantage and work for a better education?