Barbara May Cameron was a Native American photographer, poet, writer, and human rights activist. She was born on May 22, 1954, in Fort Yates, North Dakota, and was a member of the Hunkpapa group of the Lakota tribe. Cameron was raised on the Standing Rock Reservation by her grandparents and later studied photography and film at the American Indian Art Institute in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
She was a prominent figure in the LGBTQ+ community, particularly in Native American communities, and co-founded Gay American Indians, the first dedicated Native American LGBTQ+ group, in 1975. Cameron was also a passionate advocate for human rights and worked tirelessly to improve the lives of marginalized communities.
Throughout her life, Cameron received numerous awards and recognition for her work, including being appointed to the San Francisco Human Rights Commission and the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. She was also a consultant to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control, helping with AIDS and childhood immunization programs.
Cameron's legacy continues to inspire and empower people today, and her work remains an important part of the LGBTQ+ and Native American communities. Her story is a testament to the power of activism and the importance of fighting for justice and equality.
