Celebrating Blackfeet hero and justice seeker

Years ago, Elouise humbled us with the invitation to live at the Flat Iron Ranch, the first piece of important ecological land set aside as a conservation easement with the newly-formed Blackfeet Land Trust. She was instrumental in starting the Land Trust, which was a joint project with the Nature Conservancy. Every year we return to the ranch, which is home base for the VISIONS Blackfeet program. Over the years as summer caretakers, VISIONS teens have renovated buildings, fixed fences, cleared out invasive plants and more.

Though she died in 2011, Elouise is still alive among the Blackfeet and very much a part of our program experience. Her brother Dale Pepion was the ranch manager and dear friend of the program until his passing this year. Her sister-in-law Eva helps us coordinate projects. Her sister Jolene invites us to be guest deejays on a local radio station and speaks to us about Elouise’s work and legacy.

In 2013, the Flat Iron Ranch was dedicated to Elouise’s memory and renamed the Yellow Bird Woman Sanctuary in honor of her Blackfeet name.