President Barack Obama released a statement about the death of Elouise Cobell, a Blackfeet woman who successfully fought the U.S. government for mismanaging Native American land royalties. 

“Elouise spoke out when she saw that the Interior Department had failed to account for billions of dollars that they were supposed to collect on behalf of more than 300,000 of her fellow Native Americans,” Obama said in a statement sent to reporters. “Because she did, I was able to sign into law a piece of legislation that finally provided a measure of justice to those who were affected.

“That law also creates a scholarship fund to give more Native Americans access to higher education, and give tribes more control over their own lands. Elouise helped to strengthen the government to government relationship with Indian Country, and our thoughts and prayers are with her family, and all those who mourn her passing.”

Cobell died of cancer on Sunday. She was 65.