Ben Bearskin (Winnebago/Ho-Chunk) was born in 1919 into the ancient Winnebago (also known as Ho-Chunk) tribe, now confined mostly to Wisconsin and Nebraska. He grew up in a tri-lingual household hearing Dakota, Ho-Chunk and English. Ben Bearskin lived in Chicago most of his life and was one of the elders of the Indian community. In addition to his photography Ben Bearskin was active with the American Indian Center and the Chicago Drum singing group, which performed throughout the Midwest. Bearskin was also a teacher of Ho-Chunk Indian language. During decades as a pipefitter in Chicago, he did volunteer work among the 20,000 Indians in the city. He was also a member of the first Chicago American Indian Camera Club and took photographs of various Chicago and other area tribal celebrations for many years. Bearskin died in the Village of Winnebago, Nebraska in 2000 at the age of 81.