Wendsler Nosie Sr. was born on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation, in Gila County, in San Carlos, Arizona in 1959. He is a former Chairman and Councilman of the San Carlos Apache Tribe and a long time opponent of Southeast Arizona Land Exchange. He is currently living at the Apache sacred site of Oak Flat (Chi’chil Bildagoteel) to defend it from a land transfer to the mining company, Resolution Copper. For more information visit: http://www.apache-stronghold.com/

Wendsler  is a former Peridot District Councilman and Tribal Chairman of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, which consists of nearly 17,000 tribal members on the San Carlos Apache Reservation. San Carlos stretches across Gila, Graham and Pinal Counties, totaling 1.8 million acres and is situated in the southeastern portion of the State. 

He was raised in the traditional Apache way of life.

Wendsler is a long distance runner and has participated in numerous marathons and half marathons over the years. He is dedicated to the preservation and protection of Native American culture, artifacts, history religion, and tradition. He is the founder and leader of the Apache Stronghold and Director of Gaan Bike Goz aa where he continues to advocate for indigenous religious and human rights and protecting the future for our next generations to come.

To Learn More about how you can help. Click on the link below.

Join the fight to save Oak Flat

Arizona's Chi'chil Bildagoteel, also known as Oak Flat, is in danger of being destroyed by mining. A last-minute deal by the Trump Administration mandated the transfer of Oak Flat to a foreign-owned mining conglomerate that will turn this land into a massive copper mine. To protect this sacred land, Rep. Raúl Grijalva introduced the Save Oak Flat From Foreign Mining Act to permanently shield this area from mining. Join in the fight to save Oak Flat by adding your name as a citizen co-sponsor of this important legislation today.

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Oak Flat is a beautiful and biodiverse area in the Tonto National Forest. Its high desert lands are home to mountain lions, bobcats, coati, and many other wildlife species. The lands are also sacred for the San Carlos Apache and other Indigenous communities. HECHO is leading our campaign to protect and safeguard Oak Flat. HECHO stands for Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors which is part of the National Wildlife Federation family and was created to promote Hispanic leadership in conservation policy. Unfortunately, the wildlife, lands, and Indigenous sites of Oak Flat are threatened by a giant copper mine that would create a crater that is 1,000-feet deep and 1.8 miles wide. The mining would consume more than 250 billion gallons of water in an area that is already suffering from exceptional drought conditions. It would also create 1.4 billion tons of toxic mine tailings that would cover nearly 4,000 acres. Congress can stop this destructive mine from moving forward so that wildlife, watersheds, and significant Indigenous sites are safeguarded for generations to come.