Montana leaders have yet to fully acknowledge the remarkable legacy left behind by Earl Old Person, the Blackfeet chief, politician, and custodian of the tribe’s language, who passed away at the age of 92 after battling cancer approximately a year and a half ago.
It appears that Montana legislators have acknowledged the importance of Old Person’s impact. After putting in some effort, the Legislature successfully approved a bill to rename a portion of Montana Highway 89 located on the Blackfeet Reservation in honor of the late Blackfeet chief. Presently, the bill awaits Governor Greg Gianforte’s signature to officially establish the name change as legally recognized.
Bill sponsor Sen. Susan Webber, D-Browning, said the motivation behind the measure came from the community Old Person served.
Webber expressed his gratitude for being chosen by the Blackfeet tribe to carry out a task, highlighting that this indicated the request came from over 17,000 members of the tribe.
Webber believed Senate Bill 120, first introduced in January, would pass quickly. In fact it got tabled in the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee.
Webber expressed his frustration, stating that extracting it was difficult, even though it should have been effortless. Initially, he believed it would be a straightforward process, but unfortunately, it turned out to be far from that.
Members of the committee spoke during the bill’s first reading and suggested that renaming highways is reserved for fallen soldiers and police officers. Sen. Barry Usher, R-Laurel, a former state representative, called for the motion to table the bill. Usher said it has been customary to name highways after fallen military personnel and law enforcement officers.
“We encountered numerous bills in the House Transportation committee, and after careful consideration, we reached the consensus that we would only pass them in the event of a casualty in the military or law enforcement. This decision was made due to the overwhelming number of such bills, amounting to tens or possibly even more. It is important to acknowledge that there are numerous alternative methods to honor the exceptional service rendered to our state and country by individuals.”
Webber stated that despite the bill facing initial criticism, it was hurriedly presented on the Senate floor on Jan. 13 as a final attempt to save it. The motion was successfully approved, and the Senate subsequently passed it with a vote of 36-14 on Feb. 16.
The Montana American Indian Caucus presented a letter of support to the House Transportation Committee after the bill passed the Senate floor.
According to the caucus letter, Chief Old Person was not only a strong Republican supporter, but more significantly, he championed Native American Rights, setting a precedent for all Native American communities. The letter emphasized that this committee has the opportunity to acknowledge the immense historical significance of Chief Old Person, who was both a prominent figure in Montana’s history and a respected Native American leader.
For a span of 70 years, Old Person served as a political representative of the Blackfeet tribe, holding a seat on the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council for most of that duration. His significant impact extended beyond boundaries, as he garnered recognition for his efforts in collaborating with both reservation and off-reservation governments.
Rep. Tyson Running Wolf, D-Browning, carried Webber’s bill onto the House floor last week when it was up for second reading. Running Wolf served alongside Old Person on the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council in recent years.
“In his opening statement on the floor, Running Wolf highlighted Chief Earl Old Person’s role as a bridge-builder, connecting his Native American community with the wider nation and beyond. Chief Old Person encouraged his tribe to embrace entrepreneurship and actively advocated for government officials and venture capitalists to support Blackfeet-owned businesses.”
Old Person had a long-standing and unwavering engagement with the political leaders of the country. According to Running Wolf, the chief met with every U.S president from Harry S. Truman to Barack Obama, ensuring that Indian Country received acknowledgment and had a platform to express their views.
Running Wolf concluded the floor discussion by quoting the late chief.
Running Wolf expressed his gratitude towards his relatives, stating, “I am truly delighted to be present among all of you. I encourage you to put in your utmost effort and strive for excellence in serving others.”
Old Person, often characterized as gentle and hospitable, had a profound impact on numerous Montanans, including legislators in the state House of Representatives.
Rep. Michele Binkley, R-Hamilton, also spoke to the House. She told fellow lawmakers of a time when Old Person had given her money to help her move to Florida. Years later, she still remembered his generosity.
Binkley expressed, “I cannot emphasize it enough, my adoration for him was immense.”
Old Person encouraged the pursuit of education for Native youth and understood the power of continued learning. The University of Montana awarded him an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters in 1994 in recognition of his humanitarian accomplishments.
University Of Montana President Seth Bodnar told Montana Free press the university had a long-time relationship with Old Person. The chief was a part of the Rawhide Singers, a group from the Blackfeet Tribe that honored each graduating class at UM through song.
Bodnar stated that the purpose was to showcase the significant influence of Native American heritage and culture, not only in the history of the university but also in the present and future. Bodnar expressed admiration for Chief Old Person, acknowledging his exceptional leadership and the positive impact he had as a role model for many, including Bodnar himself.
The university established an endowment of $300,000 in honor of Old Person last year, which aims to support the organization of the annual Kyiyo Pow Wow at the school.
According to Bodnar, I gained a significant amount of knowledge during the time I spent with him, observing his interactions with people. He genuinely showed concern for others and exemplified the concept of a servant leader to many.
The passing of Old Person not only meant the loss of a chief for the Blackfeet community, but also the departure of an esteemed guardian of their culture and language.
John Murray, the director of the Tribal Historic Preservation Office for the tribe, revealed that during his teenage years, he served as an interpreter for the tribal council. This council consisted of individuals who were fluent in the language spoken by the tribe. According to Murray, the council members had strong ties to the ancestral traditions and the traditional Blackfoot way of life.
In an interview with MTFP, Murray spoke about the chief’s interconnectedness with families in the community, saying Old Person had ties either directly or indirectly to every family. Murray said the chief lived through many milestones of historical significance to Native Americans, including the passage of federal laws including the Indian Civil Rights Act and the Indian Freedom Act. Old Person also served as president of the National Congress of American Indians in 1969 and 1970.
According to Murray, he was regarded as a prominent figure in Indian Country leadership.
The chosen stretch of Highway 89, spanning two miles, will be dedicated in honor of Old Person. This memorialized section is situated on the Blackfeet Reservation towards the west of Browning, extending towards Browning High School. This selection was made strategically.
Webber stated that she inquired with the chief’s family about their preferred location for the road. In response, the family requested that it be constructed in front of the school.
Webber stated that our main aim is to showcase the exceptional individuals in our Native communities, both to our children and visitors. This exhibition will instill a sense of pride and belief in their own abilities, inspiring them to think, “Yes, I can achieve this too.”
This story is co-published by Montana Free Press and ICT, a news partnership that covers the Montana American Indian Caucus during the state’s 2023 legislative session. Funding is provided in part by the Headwaters Foundation.
