Celebrating Elouise Cobell at the University of Montana

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - In addition to being America’s Election Day, Tuesday, November 5 will also honor the late Elouise Cobell with several events to honor the Blackfoot woman whose actions changed the landscape of Montana history.

I spoke with Dave Kuntz, Director of Strategic Communications at UM about how the university will honor Cobell.

Elouise Cobell Day is Tuesday, November 5 on UM Campus

“Since 2015 we've been celebrating Elouise Cobell Day on November 5 to recognize her contributions to the Native American community and really the greater state of Montana,” began Kuntz. “It provides our faculty, our students, and our university community the opportunity to learn about her contributions around the big legal victory that she sought, and her leadership there within the tribe and beyond. On Tuesday, we're going to spend the day with a series of events to celebrate her contributions and really educate the next generation of Montanans on her contributions to our state.”

Kuntz described the Elouise Cobell Institute on the UM campus.

“As a result of her work the university has created the Elouise Cobell Land and Culture Institute, which is an entity we have here at the university that provides student scholarship, does research, and really does experience-based learning with their tribal partners to provide a lasting effect to her legacy and ensure that while we are fulfilling our responsibility that students who are coming to the University of Montana and studying our programs have the opportunity to learn about her leadership and the impact that she's had,” he said.

Many Special Events Will Take Place at UM on Tuesday

Kuntz briefly described some of the events planned for Tuesday.

“Starting at noon there at the Payne Family Native American Center, there'll be some honor songs, as well as a round dance and lunch out on the oval here at the University of Montana,” he said. “Then starting at one o'clock, we'll have some special guest speakers, including Carol Juneau, who is a retired teacher and legislator, who was close friends with Elouise Cobell. Then we will do our recipient panel there to wrap up the events at 3:30 p.m.”

UM Spokesman Also Honored the Terry Payne Family Foundation

Kuntz took time to honor Terry Payne and the Payne Family Foundation for the contributions they have made at UM.

“Terry Payne is just a critical figure in U M's trajectory,” he said. “The Payne Family Native American Center would not be here today if it were not for him. The Montana Museum of Art and Culture wouldn't be here if it was not for him, and furthermore, his philanthropic efforts around other programs like our Grizzly Promise have literally torn down the financial barrier to attending college for hundreds of students who are on our campus today.”

The events at the Elouise Cobell Center will begin at noon on Tuesday and continue until 3:30 p.m.