About
Our mission
The mission of the Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health (CAIANH) is to promote the health and well-being of American Indian and Alaska Native Peoples through community-driven research, education and training, tailored technical support, and knowledge dissemination.
Key Mission Areas:- Community-driven Research: Build and sustain collaborative partnerships to engage in rigorous research that respects the unique cultural contexts of American Indian and Alaska Native communities and honors self-determination and sovereignty.
- Education and Training: Support learning, career development, and mentorship for the next generation of researchers, public health professionals, and community partners committed to supporting American Indian and Alaska Native health and well-being.
- Tailored Technical Support: Provide technical assistance and other support to individuals, organizations, and communities to increase their capacity to pursue research and implement programs that promote American Indian and Alaska Native health and well-being.
- Knowledge Dissemination: Broadly share findings and lessons learned in ways that are useful, accessible, and actionable, in partnership with American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
/smmanson_portrait_2026-web.jpg?sfvrsn=3c30dab4_1 "SMManson_portrait_2026-web")
Dr. Spero Manson (Little Shell Chippewa), Director of the Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health
/nighthorse-campbell-2007.jpg?sfvrsn=7f1fdab4_1 "Nighthorse-Campbell-2007")
Ben Nighthorse Campbell (Northern Cheyenne; 1933 - 2025)
Director's note
A Warrior for Our Time…Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell
December 30, 2025, Ben Nighthorse Campbell transitioned to the spirit world, and began his journey to join our ancestors. A member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, he was a remarkable person, dedicated to excellence in his personal and professional lives. A world class athlete, having won a gold medal in judo at the 1963 Pan-American Games, Ben served in the Air Force, completed degrees in physical education and fine arts at San Jose State University, and became a renowned silversmith and jeweler. Initially a member of the Colorado state legislature, he was subsequently elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for three 2-year terms, and then joined the U.S. Senate for an additional 12 years. A powerful, vocal advocate on behalf of Native people and protecting public lands and waters, Senator Campbell stood tall among Democrats and Republicans alike. He skillfully negotiated agreements that charted ways forward through a complicated political landscape.
Ben was equally memorable in his personal life, whether riding his Harley-Davidson Classic motorcycle throughout Colorado or on his way to South Dakota to celebrate the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. He was extraordinarily talented. Ben’s stunning jewelry is proudly treasured by countless individuals and collectors including five Presidents of the United States, many celebrities, and admirers of fine art in general.
I was privileged to know and work with the Senator in the mid-1990s as the then University of Colorado Health Sciences Center migrated to the current CU Anschutz campus in Aurora, CO. Every other month for nearly a year and a half, I joined a CU lobbyist and Ben in Washington, DC, to help educate his peers about the healthcare needs of American Indian and Alaska Native people, the important role of research, training, and program development in addressing those needs, and CU’s potential in this regard.
I shall never forget being escorted up and down the halls of Congress, as he introduced me to fellow House and Senate colleagues and their staff, especially those representing western states. The warmth and respect accorded him was evident at every turn. One moment in particular stood out. Entering the office of Senator Ted Stevens, the senior member of the Alaska delegation, Mr. Stevens quickly stood, affectionately shook Ben’s hand, and greeted me as if I was one of his constituents. Senator Stevens, then Chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, on which Ben also served, had become his mentor and patron. Their support eventually proved critical to securing the initial infusion of federal monies that facilitated the establishment of the university at Fitzsimons and, as a small part, construction of the Nighthorse Campbell Native Health Building, which houses our programs.
Yes, Ben Nighthorse Campbell … a warrior for our times. His legacy lives on not only in terms of our Centers’ home, but his imprint on Native life on Colorado and beyond.