By Santee Ross, University of Montana

Elouise Cobell died Sunday at the age of 65 according to an article at but left a legacy of inspiration.

Cobell was given the name Yellow Bird Woman and was the great granddaughter of Mountain Chief of the Blackfoot tribe.

She is most remembered for the lawsuit she led against the U.S. Department of Interior for unpaid royalties on Indian land.

"I never started this case with any intentions of being a hero. I just wanted this case to give justice to people that didn't have it,” Cobell said.

I find her to be very inspiring because she charged head on against what she felt was rampant misdeeds against her people.

She took action as a leader in order to help her people move toward a hopeful future.

The lawsuit had been a 15-year-long battle but finally came to an end in 2009 with a $3.4 billion settlement and about 500,000 beneficiaries.

Her victory in the courtroom was shortly followed by another battle; cancer.

In April, Cobell had surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota.

She didn't live long enough to see the actual conclustion of the settlement, which has been held up by appeals (no surprise there—typical government).

Although she died, she accomplished great things in her lifetime. I admire her powerful drive that she held for herself as well as her tribe. This strong Native woman went up against the government and won.

This is sure to inspire others, myself included, to make a difference and improve the well being of our people.

Gandhi famously said “Be the change you want to see in the world.”

We can learn from the courage of Gandhi and Cobell.

If every reservation had an Elouise Cobell there could be potential for renewed culture, more jobs, better education and the very real fun of sticking it to “the white man.”

Santee Ross (Hopi and Lakota) is from Lander, Wyo.