The Fight for Our Existence

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Wendsler Nosie Sr. of Apache Stronghold to discuss the latest developments in the legal battle to protect Oak Flat, known to the Apache as Chi'chil Bildagoteel. Wendsler shares insight into the recent court rulings in Apache Stronghold v. United States, the Forest Service's plan to republish the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), and the sacred significance of the land under threat from the proposed Resolution Copper mine. This conversation dives deep into the spiritual and legal dimensions of Indigenous land defense and the urgent need to stand in solidarity.Apache Stronghold Websitehttp://apache-stronghold.comApache Messenger Newspaperhttps://www.apachemessenger.com

In this episode of Fight 4 Our Existence, we shed light on an urgent Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) case. We share the story of the missing, the impact on their loved ones, and the ongoing fight for justice. Through firsthand accounts and discussion, we aim to raise awareness, honor the voices of those affected, and highlight the systemic issues contributing to the MMIP crisis.Thank you to families of Bessie Walker, Nick Patterson, and Paul James Jr.Listener discretion is advised, as this episode contains discussions of violence and sensitive subject matter. If you or someone you know has information about an MMIP case or needs support, please seek help from the appropriate resources.Families seeking help, click on link below.https://www.indigenousjustice.org

I had the privilege of sitting down with Morning Star Gali to discuss a variety of pressing Native issues today. We talked about her roots in the Bay Area, the Alcatraz Sunrise Gathering, the fight to protect land and water, and much more. Morning Star is the founder of Indigenous Justice, and you can connect with her on Facebook and Instagram.This introduction is on www.indigenousjustice.org"Morning Star Gali is a member of the Ajumawi band of Pit River Tribe. From 2016-2018 she was a Rosenberg Leading Edge Fellow focusing on the disproportionate impact of the criminal and juvenile justice systems on Native Americans. She has worked as the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Pit River Tribe. She continues to lead large-scale actions while helping organize Native cultural, spiritual, scholarly, and political gatherings throughout California. Morning Star is deeply committed to advocating for indigenous sovereignty issues such as missing & murdered indigenous women, climate justice, gender justice and sacred sites protection on behalf of the tribal and intertribal communities that she was raised within."

Great discussion with my sister Sinetta and Dwight over Native Health, including wellbriety and mental health. Sinetta is a Behavior Counselor and works for Native Health in downtown Phoenix, Az. She just great work with our Native community to help them get on the right path.Dwight Francisco is an enrolled member of the Tohono O'odham Nation. As a spiritual advisor, he helps to provide cultural and spiritual healing to many of our relatives in the Phoenix area including coordinating an effort to build a sweat lodge at the Patina Mountain Preserve, a substance abuse treatment center. Dwight has graciously facilitated many of the Phoenix Indian Center's Gathering of Native Americans (GONA) through our Prevention Program and through the Urban Indian Coalition of Arizona.Contacts:Sinetta Brown LopezEmail: slopez@nachci.comContact Native Health at (602) 279-5262.Dwight FranciscoEmail: Dwight.a.francisco@gmail.com

Nice sit down with Raven from Colorado about the MMIR crisis in the state of Colorado and across the country. Raven is President of the Missing, Murdered, Indigenous Relatives Task Force of Colorado.Official Websitehttps://mmirtaskforceco.comDonate to MMIRhttps://www.paypal.com/paypalme/MMIRTaskforceCO?country.x=US&locale.x=en_USOfficial Facebook Pagehttps://www.facebook.com/MMIRofColorado

I had the chance to sit down with my Uncle Wendsler for another conversation before he heads out on his Prayer Journey to DC, Today Wendsler and the Apache Stronghold is leaving for Thacker Pass in Nevada. They will make 14 stops across the country until they make their final stop in Washington DC on September 11th to the Supreme Court. For more info on the Prayer Journey, click the link below.http://www.apache-stronghold.com

Finally caught up with my Uncle Wendsler for a one on one conversation. My Uncle lives at Oak Flat and travels all over the country speaking on Oak Flat. In this episode, we talk about him growing up on the San Carlos Reservation. We talked about how his life experiences lead him to what he is doing today. Apache Stronghold websitehttp://www.apache-stronghold.comApache Stronghold - Instagram Pagehttps://www.instagram.com/protectoakflat?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==Apache Stronghold - Facebook Pagehttps://www.facebook.com/SaveOakFlatArizona/about_profile_transparency

Mount Graham Sacred Run this weekend starting Thursday July 18th at Old San Carlos starting at 4pm. It will continue Friday morning at 4am across from Noline;s Country Store. They will run all the way up to Treasure Park on top of Mount Graham, Runners are needed and there will be food available. Bring you tents and rain clothes.Vanessa gives an update on the devastating Watch Fire that took place on the San Carlos Reservation. Thank you to everyone that donated to the families that lost their homes.

On May 15th, 1850 the 1st Dragoons Regiment of the United States Calvary slaughtered 200 Pomos mostly consistent of elders, women, and children. Their orders were to exterminate if possible the whole tribe. The Pomos were massacred on what they call today, Bloody Island.

Sat down Bernadette at the upcoming Dave Smith Park in Windsor California. We talked about caring the legacy of our fathers and keeping our traditions strong for our future generations. We also discuss MMIP/MMIR and loss of her sisters. I was lucky enough to have Bernadette sing a song for the closing of the episode. OH!

Discussion on the importance of hair for boys and men. Also talked about Land Back and Energy. It is always good to sit down with my cousin Batsulwin and discuss topics like this. We grew up together in a deep cultural family, so we have a lot of the same beliefs. Always a good discussion when we talk. I hope you enjoy.

On this Episode I sat down with my cousin Batsulwin in California at the Pechanga Casino and Resort. We attended a weekend conference for Native Americans. We talk about Fentanyl and what is doing to our Native youths, status of Rattlesnake Island, name change of Kelseyville in Lake County, translation of Native Language to English, and finding your way to heal.

On this episode is short update on the next move for Apache Stronghold after the 6-5 decision in favor of Resolution Copper. Apache Stronghold will continue the fight all the way to SCOTUS. On the bottom is link to the Apache Stronghold website on how to get involved with the case and fight along side.http://apache-stronghold.com

First episode of the year for 2024. Tonight I had a discussion with my cousin Vanessa Nosie. She is the organizer for the Oak Flat Run this year. This is a great event to attend. The battle goes on everyday for Natives against the mining companies. My family Apache Stronghold is leading the way to stop the killing of our Mother Earth. The Annual Run will be on February 15th thru the 18th. For more information, please click on the link below to the Apache Stronghold official website.http://apache-stronghold.com/

Eye Opening conversation with my cousin Mike Brown from Elem Pomo Tribe. Elem is located in Northern California and sits right next to a mercury mine. Mike started a Non-Profit Organization to give the community jobs to monitor EPA.

Great conversation with Dawn, owner of Manuelito Health and Wellnesshttps://linktr.ee/DawnManuelito

Uncle Fox introduces Sam Martinez. We discuss their connection through Facebook and how they met through a Pomo linguistics group. Sal, a former Tribal Secretary of the Manchester Pointer tribe. We talk about our ancestoral land and our Pomo culture.

Great conversation with my good friend Robert. Robert is Chiricahua Apache and is currently living LA, California.

Great conversation tonight with my brotha Shane Michael from the La Jolla Reservation in Southern California. To learn more of of his work, please click on the link below.https://youtu.be/CHCxJ9mgDoQ

This episode was recorded at Elem after a good weekend of ceremony at our cerermonial roundhouse with my cousin Batsulwin Brown. Elem is our Pomo tribe located in Northern California. We want to open the discussion of regalia making and where do we go from here.

Sorry about the feed back on this episode, promise next will be better. We had a lot of stuff to talk about and reminice about our times of dancing in our family group. We also talked about what we see in the future for are songs and dances. Love my brother Batsulwin and brother Clifford for coming out and taking the time to sing and to give blessings.

On this episode I met Ruben at the Sacred Site Summit in Tucson Arizona. Ruben has been following Oak Flat March Run and Mt Graham Sacred Run. He was fun to talk to and had some nice poetry. Please take a listen.Email for Ruben:unbrokkenroots@gmail.comInstagram Page:https://instagram.com/emerging_beyond_colonization?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Had the privilege to speak at the 1st Annual Sacred Site Summit in Arizona. This summit was put together by my Uncle Wensler and the Apache Stronghold. My cousin Batsulwin came out and joined me on stage to speak about what mining has done to our homeland of Elem in Northern California. After we had to chance and sit down and talk about our home.Batsulwin's email:bbbrown@knwi.org

Donell Barlow is Yurok and an enrolled member of the Ottawa tribe, Otter clan. She currently resides in Spokane, WA working with Native youth, families, and communities as a certified Holistic Health Coach, Nutrition Consultant, and Author. Her deep passion for working with the Native Youth utilizing traditional foods as medicine has been at the forefront for most of her work. Donell is the author of Medicine Tracks-A Memoir, Bigfoot and Lightning Bug, and Words Have No Meaning- a book of poetry and illustrations. In December 2020, she was awarded the Spokane Arts Grant Award, which funded her most recent book, Creature Teacher Yoga, which combines animals cultural teachings and the Salish Language. Donell's work was featured in the fall 20021 "Heritage" issue of Native Max Magazine, where she discusses her personal journey into discovering her passion for using food as medicine.Donell's Links:http://www.donellbarlow.comBooks by Donell on Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/s?k=donell+barlow+books&sprefix=Donell+bar%2Caps%2C260&ref=nbInstagram:https://instagram.com/nativefox17?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=TikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@nativefox17?_t=8VUpaHDaflO&_r=1

This episode I invited Carina Dominguez. Carina s a producer and national correspondent for Indian Country Today. She's an enrolled member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe in Tucson, Arizona. I met Carina in Tucson at a Oak Flat update meeting. Carina does great work for her community and our people. She has visited Oak Flat and understands the fight to save our sacred land.Carina's Links:Instagram:https://instagram.com/carinareporting?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=Twitter:https://twitter.com/carinareports?s=21&t=S8HwNi4hRuQw0WYdYdJtMQIndian Country Today:https://indiancountrytoday.com/

This 4th Episode I had special guest Cheyenne Kippenberger from the Seminole Tribe of Florida come on the podcast and talk about Land Acknowledgement. Cheyenne is an advocate on land acknowledgement and advocate of Healing & Mental Wellness. Cheyenne from Florida and my people from Arizona all have the same issues when dealing with protecting our mother earth. We had a great conversation and touched on a great deal of issues with Native American history and being as land protectors. Cheyenne is doing great work for her community and our people. Keep up the great work Cheyenne!website: https://www.cheyennekippenberger.cominstagram: https://instagram.com/cheyennekippenberger?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=Also check out her opening speech on Land Acknowledgement at the Inaugural Aspen Ideas Festival in Miami Beach. You can find this clip on her YouTube page.YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/CheyenneKippenberger

On Monday July 18th, 2022 the Apache Stronghold had meeting in Tucson, Arizona to discuss our next move. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 decision ruled that the request for a preliminary injunction to halt the land exchange of Oak Flat be denied. Please listen and take action to Save Oak Flat. Speakers at this meeting were Naelyn Pike, Vanessa Nosie, and Wendsler Nosie. If you have any questions or want to help with the fight for Oak Flat, please email apache,stronghold@gmail.com. You can also go to the website apache-stronghold.com.

Special Edition: 31st Annual Mount Graham Sacred Run with special guest, my cousin Vanessa Nosie. The sacred run will start Thursday July 21 @ Old San Carlos Monument at 4pm. This sacred run started in 1991 and it was for trying to stop UofA from placing a telescope on top of our sacred mountain. UofA had backing from the Vatican and we have been fighting for this mountain ever since. Please come out and join if you can. Runners are needed!! The top of Mt. Graham is beautiful.For more information on the sacred run contact:Vanessa Nosie: vnosie11@gmail.comWendsler Nosie: apache4ss@yahoo.com

First episode for The Fight for Our Existence. This episode is a quick rundown on what's happening with Oak Flat. Oak Flat is about to be mined for copper and creating a 2 mile radius sink hole. This site is sacred to my people the Apaches. This place is also where my daughter had her Coming of Age ceremony.fight4ourexistencepodcast@gmail.com