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Committee advances bill to name section of Great Falls roadway for Ojibwe leader Jim Loud Thunder Gopher
Summary
House Bill 448, sponsored by Representative Jane Weber, would designate part of the Northwest Bypass near Hill 57 as the Jim Loud Thunder Gopher Memorial Highway; the House Transportation Committee voted 13-1 to give the bill a do-pass recommendation.
The House Transportation Committee voted 13-1 to give House Bill 448 a do-pass recommendation, advancing a measure to designate a portion of the Northwest Bypass near Hill 57 in Great Falls as the Jim Loud Thunder Gopher Memorial Highway.
Representative Jane Weber, sponsor of the bill, said descendants and tribal leaders asked her to carry the legislation to recognize Jim Loud Thunder Gopher, an Ojibwe leader who lived and served his community near Great Falls in the early 20th century. "Loud Thunder was a full blood Ojibwe and he was born in Malta Montana in 1885," Representative Jane Weber said as she introduced the measure and yielded to family and tribal witnesses.
Multiple descendants and tribal representatives testified in support. Richard Parenteau, a Little Shell tribal member and descendant, described Gopher's leadership, cultural role, and historical ties to Hill 57. "Jim Louthunder was of the crane clan, Bald Eagle. The cranes were considered leaders of the Ojibwe nation and were orators and spokesman of the tribe," Parenteau said. Daniel Pocha, chairman of the Little Shell elder society, told the committee the designation would honor elders and traditions preserved at Hill 57. Alisa Herodes, a Little Shell tribal councilwoman participating online, wrote that the tribal council "encourages the passage of bill or House Bill 4 48" and said the recognition would make tribal members proud.
The Montana American Indian Caucus also submitted support and was represented by Lance Forstar, who provided written testimony endorsing the bill.
Montana Department of Transportation staff attended informationally. John Swartz, MDT maintenance administrator, said MDT had prepared a fiscal note (not yet published online at the time of the hearing) and expected signage and mapping costs similar to prior memorial-highway designations. He told the committee MDT would place the designation on digital and printed state maps with a small-font notation and that sign installation would follow normal MDT procedures.
Committee discussion clarified the exact area proposed for designation. Representative Weber and witnesses described the segment as the Northwest Bypass in the vicinity of the Stuckey Road turnoff and the Hill 57 cultural center; witnesses noted a round-dance site, a sweat lodge, and continuing community activity at Hill 57. Representative Weber closed by asking for a do-pass recommendation "to memorialize this section of the Northwest Bypass" and to honor Gopher's contributions to his people and to Montana.
Representative Smith moved the do-pass motion; the committee conducted a roll-call vote and recorded 13 ayes and 1 no. The committee chair announced: "House bill 448 passes transportation committee and will progress to second reading on the house floor." The bill will now be scheduled for further floor action.
Ending: Proponents characterized the bill as a community and historical recognition measure; MDT said the costs are similar to past designations and will be handled through normal sign and mapping procedures.
