Montana Congressman Pat Williams, a great friend of Tribes, passes at 87

Spanning two decades, whenever tribal leaders from any State went to Washington D.C. for lobbying purposes, a visit with Montana Congressman Pat Williams (D) was top priority. Williams was a good friend who could be counted on to actively support tribal requests, especially for education, protection of the environment, needs of the working poor and other matters of concern to tribal peoples.

Tribal leaders from that era all around the Country were saddened to learn of Williams’ passing at the age of 87. Northern Cheyenne Tribal President Gene Small commented, “In these political times which are so harsh upon Indian People, we wish that a statesman like Congressman Williams was on the scene.”

As reported in his obituary, Pat Williams once said, “If you want to know who someone really is, give them power and see what they do with it.” What Pat did, said his son, was to defend the underdog, protect our wild lands, defend the working people, the arts and culture, Native people and children with disabilities.

He served 18 years in Congress, more consecutive terms in the U.S. House than anyone in Montana history. Over his lifetime, he remained devoted to serving the people of Montana and making it a better place for future generations. During that time, Frank Ducheneaux. In 2019 The Federal Bar Association Indian Law Section awarded Ducheneaux, Reid Peyton Chambers, and Harry Sachse the Lawrence R. Baca Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Federal Indian Law. Frank, a Cheyenne River Sioux citizen and graduate of the Cheyenne River Boarding School, has advocated for American Indian rights for the last 54 years along with other notable Native leaders such as Gay Kingman, also Cheyenne River Sioux. He started his federal Indian legal career in 1967 as an attorney for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Washington, DC. In 1970, at age 30, he was elected Executive Director of the National Congress of American Indians. From 1970 to 1990, Frank served as Counsel on Indian Affairs to the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs.

During those decades comprising “the Golden Age” of federal Indian law, Frank was a prominent staffer for Williams in every major piece of Indian legislation to come before the Committee, including the Indian Self- Determination and Education Assistance Act, Indian Health Care Improvement Act, American Indian Religious Freedom Act, Indian Child Welfare Act, and the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

Williams was a proudly from Butte, Montana, he taught in the public schools, served as a state legislator and became Montana’s longest-serving Congressman in the state’s history. Throughout his career, he was known to Montanans simply as “Pat.”

He was born in Butte in Oct. 30, 1937, during the Great Depression. His colorful Irish family included his mother Libby Williams, his cousin Evel Knievel and Sister Toni Harris, Prioress of the Dominican nuns. His working parents owned the American Candy Shop in Butte. Because of their round-the-clock schedule, he was raised primarily by his cherished Irish grandmother Lizzy Keough.

Williams was first elected to the Montana House of Representatives from Silver Bow County in 1966. After serving two terms in the Montana Legislature, he worked as an Executive Assistant to Montana Congressman John Melcher. Montanans elected Williams to the House of Representatives for nine terms, serving from 1979 to 1997.

During his time in Congress, he was a tireless champion for working people. He was the Chairman of the committees on Post-Secondary Education and Labor Management and he created the College Middle Income Assistance Act. He sponsored the Family and Medical Leave Act, which protects workers from losing their jobs while taking maternity leave or caring for a sick family member. It was the first piece of legislation signed into law by President Bill Clinton.

Williams was also responsible for the legislation that created the American Conservation Corps, providing thousands of America’s young people with an opportunity to serve their country and pursue higher education. Every state now has a Conservation Corps. In 1985, Williams was appointed Majority Whip under House leadership by Speaker Thomas “Tip” O’Neill.

Among his many legislative accomplishments were the Children with Disabilities Act of 1986. His legislation protected the Lee Metcalf Wilderness Area, located north of Yellowstone National Park, as well as the Rattlesnake Wilderness Area, north of Missoula, Montana.

He led the successful effort to save the Bob Marshall Wilderness from oil and gas exploration and banned geothermal energy drilling near Yellowstone. In a 1987 floor speech supporting wilderness protection, he famously warned, “We’re not proposing wilderness for wilderness’ sake—we’re holding back the concrete tide that already threatens our birthright.”

Pat worked tirelessly with Tribal Leaders to build Montana’s seven Tribal Colleges. Working together, they also established the High School on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation and the Two River Eagle School on the Flathead Reservation.

In 2023, Williams was honored by the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes with an Indian name, cik.sšn or Shining Stone. The name was chosen “as a reflection of his public service and how he shines as a leader, storyteller and through the charismatic way he inspires, shares wisdom and makes people laugh. Shining Stone reflects the strong foundation he provides his family, Butte and all of Montana. He is the statesman many go to for wise advice from a true elder.”

In his later years, Pat said he still heard the call of the mountains walking with his dogs. He said “Out here, we measure a man by how well he listens when there’s no one else talking.”

Williams, who died June 25, 2025, is survived by his wife Carol, son Griff Williams, daughters Erin Williams and Whitney Williams, his daughter-in-law Christine Treadway, son-in-law Joe Easton, and his deeply loved grandchildren: Keelan Williams, Aidan Williams and Fiona Easton.

(Contact Clara Caufield at acheyennereview@gmail.com)

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