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69th Legislature 2025 HB 448
- 1 - Authorized Print Version – HB 448
ENROLLED BILL
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE JIM LOUD THUNDER GOPHER MEMORIAL HIGHWAY IN CASCADE
COUNTY; DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO INSTALL SIGNS AND TO INCLUDE
THE MEMORIAL HIGHWAY ON THE NEXT PUBLICATION OF THE STATE MAP; AND PROVIDING AN
IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, Jim Loud Thunder Gopher was born in 1885 in Malta, Montana, a full-blood Ojibwe of the
Crane Clan; and
WHEREAS, after a period of searching and hardship following the Spanish Flu pandemic, Loud
Thunder Gopher moved to Hill 57 outside of Great Falls; and
WHEREAS, the Little Shell Tribe had historic homesites on Hill 57 just below Mount Royal. The area is
within the tribe's congressionally designated service area pursuant to the Little Shell Restoration Act of 2019;
and
WHEREAS, Loud Thunder Gopher was a spiritual practitioner of Ojibwe traditional teachings, and he
organized ceremonial practices, including the Sun Dance, Midewiwin, shaking tent, sweat lodge, Round Dance,
and Give Away ceremonies. As a community organizer, Loud Thunder Gopher promoted voter registration and
agricultural employment; and
WHEREAS, in 1942 Loud Thunder Gopher was selected as a member of the Landless Indians to travel
to Washington, D.C., with Raymond Gray and Packy Myers to advocate for a land base; and
WHEREAS, Loud Thunder Gopher died in 1946 in Great Falls and is buried in Highland Cemetery. His
descendants are enrolled in many of the tribes residing in Montana.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
Section 1. Jim Loud Thunder Gopher memorial highway. (1) There is established the Jim Loud
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69th Legislature 2025 HB 448
- 2 - Authorized Print Version – HB 448
ENROLLED BILL
Thunder Gopher memorial highway on the existing northwest bypass and Vaughn road in Great Falls from 14th
street northwest to 27th street northwest.
(2) The department shall design and install appropriate signs marking the location of the Jim Loud
Thunder Gopher memorial highway.
(3) Maps that identify roadways in the state must be updated to include the location of the Jim
Loud Thunder Gopher memorial highway when the department updates and publishes the state maps.
Section 2. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title
60, chapter 1, part 2, and the provisions of Title 60, chapter 1, part 2, apply to [section 1].
Section 3. Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.
- END -
I hereby certify that the within bill,
HB 448, originated in the House.
___________________________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
___________________________________________
Speaker of the House
Signed this _______________________________day
of____________________________________, 2025.
___________________________________________
President of the Senate
Signed this _______________________________day
of____________________________________, 2025.
HOUSE BILL NO. 448
INTRODUCED BY J. WEBER, M. NIKOLAKAKOS, T. CROWE, S. FYANT, J. SOOKTIS, E. TILLEMAN, E.
BUTTREY, M. DUNWELL, W. MCKAMEY, T. RUNNING WOLF, F. SMITH, S. WEBBER, J. WINDY BOY, S.
FITZPATRICK, R. MINER, D. HAWK, C. KEOGH, G. NIKOLAKAKOS, J. TREBAS
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE JIM LOUD THUNDER GOPHER MEMORIAL HIGHWAY IN CASCADE COUNTY;
DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO INSTALL SIGNS AND TO INCLUDE THE
MEMORIAL HIGHWAY ON THE NEXT PUBLICATION OF THE STATE MAP; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE
EFFECTIVE DATE.