Former Colorado Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell dies at 92
Former U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, a Northern Cheyenne tribal chief who represented Colorado in Congress as both a Democrat and later a Republican, died Tuesday at his ranch home in southwestern Colorado at age 92, his daughter said. Campbell, known for championing Native American issues and sponsoring legislation elevating Great Sand Dunes to national park status, served in the U.S. House in the 1980s, switched parties in 1995 during his first Senate term, and retired in the 2000s citing health concerns, later focusing on his acclaimed Native American jewelry.
đ Key Facts
- Ben Nighthorse Campbell died Tuesday at age 92 at his ranch in southwestern Colorado, according to his daughter Shanan Campbell.
- He served in the U.S. House in the 1980s, was elected to the U.S. Senate as a Democrat, and switched to the Republican Party in 1995 after a dispute over a balanced-budget amendment.
- Campbell was a Northern Cheyenne tribal chief, a leading advocate for Native American issues, and helped sponsor legislation upgrading Great Sand Dunes National Monument to a national park.
đ Relevant Data
Native Americans make up approximately 1.1% of the U.S. population, with the American Indian and Alaska Native alone population at 3.7 million in 2020.
American Indian Demographics â National Indian Council on Aging
Native American representation in the U.S. Congress remains limited, with a record of only 6 Native Americans elected to Congress in 2020.
A record 6 Native Americans were elected to Congress. Here's where they stand on climate â USET Sovereignty Protection Fund
The national poverty rate for Native Americans was 25.4% in recent data, the highest among racial groups, compared to 20.8% for Black Americans and a national average of 11.4%.
Racial Wealth Snapshot: Native Americans â National Community Reinvestment Coalition
American Indians and Alaska Natives have the lowest life expectancy at birth among all racial and ethnic groups in the United States, with higher rates of diabetes (2.3 times more likely to die from diabetes than White people) and the highest suicide rate compared to other groups.
Understanding Health Disparities in Indigenous Communities â California Health Care Foundation
Ben Nighthorse Campbell sponsored the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site Establishment Act of 2000, which established the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site in Colorado, not the Great Sand Dunes National Park as sometimes misreported.
S.2950 - 106th Congress (1999-2000): Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site Establishment Act of 2000 â Congress.gov