Curtis C. Campbell, a former president of the Prairie Island Indian Community in Minnesota, died on April 12. He was 74.

Campbell was one of the last remaining Dakota speakers at Prairie Island. He dedicated his life to preserving tribal culture.

"In the old ways, he would be considered a chief," his son, Calvin Campbell, told The Minneapolis Star Tribune. "He was the historian for our people.''

Campbell's daughter, Audrey Bennett, also served as president of the tribe. She said her father always put the community first.

"He will be missed, not only by the tribe, but those of us who worked with him will be poorer for not having his counsel," Bennett told the paper.

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Curtis Campbell, historian for the Dakota (The Minneapolis Star Tribune 4/10)