Our Story

A woman named Elouise changed everything.

Elouise Cobell spent decades demanding justice for half a million Native Americans. What she won became the foundation for something lasting: scholarships, opportunity, and a commitment to the next generation.

The woman who took on the United States. And won.

Elouise Cobell was a member of the Blackfeet Nation in Montana — a banker, a rancher, and someone who paid very close attention to numbers. When she noticed billions of dollars owed to Native Americans had vanished into federal bureaucracy, she didn't look away. She filed the largest class-action lawsuit ever brought against the United States government.

“I just can't sit by and watch the exposed injustice of this go on. This money belongs to the Indian people.”
— Elouise Cobell

Her 15-year fight resulted in a $3.4 billion settlement — and a scholarship fund that carries her name to this day.

Read Elouise's full story

What we stand for.

Providing elevated opportunities for high achieving, community involved Native college scholars with leadership experience through empowering them with an impactful scholarship experience designed to support their success in higher education.

It started with one voice. It became a legacy.

The Cobell Scholarship didn't start with a donation or a grant. It started with a 15-year legal battle, one woman demanding justice on behalf of half a million Native Americans. Here's how that fight became your future.

Explore our history

Meet the organization behind the mission.

Indigenous Education, Inc. (IEI) manages the Cobell Scholarship, ensuring every eligible Native American and Alaska Native student has access to the funding Elouise's settlement made possible.

Learn about IEI

Her fight became your future. Now it's your turn.

Elouise Cobell believed that Native students didn't just deserve restitution — they deserved investment. The scholarships are here. The support is here. The only thing missing is you.

Explore Scholarships