One of America’s most influential and long-established Native American organizations — the Blackfeet Nation in Montana — mourned the death of its 77-year-old chief Wednesday.
Nelson “Cord” Ashton, the senior vice president and CEO of the Blackfeet Tribal Council, a law-enforcement and environmental authority within the tribe, said Chief Earl Old Person was a “longtime leader” for the BFC.
Chief Elder Earl Old Person has passed away. A leader of the B.C.T.A. for over 40 years, he leaves a lasting legacy for his tribe, state, region and nation. All of us here are mourning the loss of this great leader. pic.twitter.com/65drl0kVIk — Nelson (Cord) Ashton (@cordashtonbghc) July 31, 2018
Chief Old Person, who was in charge of the Blackfeet Nation police force, was also a member of the B.C.T.A., the Blackfeet Tribe’s development and lobbying arm. Earlier this year, Chief Old Person also served as the chairman of the B.C.T.A.
In a post on his Twitter account, Ashton called Chief Old Person “a leader of the B.C.T.A. for over 40 years,” and called his death “a great loss” for the Blackfeet tribe and the entire region.
