{"id":13787,"date":"2026-01-26T20:08:02","date_gmt":"2026-01-27T03:08:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/ben-nighthorse-campbell-celebration-of-life-set-for-april\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T21:41:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T03:41:11","slug":"ben-nighthorse-campbell-celebration-of-life-set-for-april","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/ben-nighthorse-campbell-celebration-of-life-set-for-april\/","title":{"rendered":"Ben Nighthorse Campbell celebration of life set for April"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"A
A celebration of life for former U.S. Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Ignacio will be held April 13 at the Sky Ute Casino Event Center in Ignacio. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald file)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

A celebration of life for former U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Ignacio will be held April 13 at the Sky Ute Casino Event Center in Ignacio.<\/p>\n

Campbell died Dec. 30. He was 92.<\/p>\n

Campbell was among the few Native American members of Congress, where he served as a leading voice for tribal interests.<\/p>\n

He sponsored legislation including the 2002 Indian Financing Amendments Act and the 1989 National Museum of the American Indian Act. He was a key proponent of the Animas-La Plata Project, which stores water belonging to regional Native American tribes.<\/p>\n

Outside politics, he was recognized for his artistic and cultural contributions as a jeweler, Olympian, rancher and advocate for Native representation.<\/p>\n

The ceremony will take place from 1 to 2:30 p.m. April 13, followed by a reception from 2:30 to 4 p.m.<\/p>\n

A video from Campbell\u2019s Senate campaign and a short documentary from Rocky Mountain PBS will be played beginning at 1 p.m., followed by several speakers.<\/p>\n

Gene Small, president of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, will lead opening prayers, followed by speakers representing different periods of Campbell\u2019s life.<\/p>\n

Speakers will include Al Harper, a close friend and owner of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad; retired Gen. Ronald R. Fogelman; Jim \u201cJimmy\u201d Wooley, a two-time U.S. Olympian in judo; Mike Lovato, a longtime friend and co-founder of the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally; and Campbell\u2019s daughter, Shanan Campbell.<\/p>\n

The keynote speaker will be W. Richard West Jr., founding director of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian.<\/p>\n

Those planning to attend should register at bit.ly\/468TazZ<\/a><\/p>\n

jbowman@durangoherald.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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