APACHES FOR CULTURAL PRESERVATION
POB 766 SAN CARLOS, ARIZONA 85550
APACHES4CULTURAL@THERIVER.COM

For Immediate Release	Contact: Wendsler Nosie (928) 475-2494
	(w) 475-2361

July 18, 2005

Mount Graham Sacred Run to Unite Tribes in Protection of Sacred Sites

The thirteenth Mount Graham Sacred Run will take place from July 24 – July 29, covering 350 miles from the top of Mount Graham to the San Francisco Peaks . Runners from tribes in Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico will join the relay run to unite in the struggle to protect their traditional homelands and sacred places. The run will culminate on the San Francisco Peaks with an inter-tribal summit aimed to bring together those fighting for the preservation of traditional ways and against the desecration of native lands.

Wendsler Nosie, a San Carlos Apache Tribal Councilman and organizer of the annual event, hopes that by working together, Arizona tribes will have a stronger voice against the continued destruction of native sacred places. “It is essential for all of the tribes to work together. The abuse of our people and land is widespread, and we must act in unity to stop it,” said Nosie, a long time opponent of the telescopes being built on Dzil Nchaa si'an , or Mount Graham , adding “our struggles are the same, whether on Mount Graham or the San Francisco Peaks . Protection of native land and religious freedom is being ignored for business interests, and our cultural survival is imperiled as a result.”

Nosie cites the recent decision to allow expansion of the Snowbowl ski resort, despite a Forest Service finding of significant adverse impact, as an affront to religious freedom. Litigation is pending on the issue, and Forest Service disregard has raised the ire of many Arizona tribes who consider the mountain sacred. Similarly, the Forest Service is failing its trust responsibility for Mount Graham as a Traditional Cultural Property of the Western Apaches by promoting telescope construction and expansion by the University of Arizona .

This year's run will respond to the threats facing all tribes. Nosie stated, “we are in a period that requires prayers to guide us in our spiritual beliefs. There are so many tragedies occurring, not only must we protect our traditional homelands, but also protect our reservations from outside interests such as copper mining, coal mining, uranium extraction, and other developments that will effect our future generations to come. We must not forget our history, which is the foundation of the present and future. We must fight for what is left, for that is our identity.”

The Mount Graham Sacred Run promotes self-determination and includes traditional ceremonies, and involvement by tribal political leaders. Runners will gather at the top of Mount Graham for blessings on Saturday, July 23. The running commences on Mount Graham at 3:30 a.m. , on Monday, July 25 th , stopping in Safford, and San Carlos for presentations, and ending the first day, some 130 miles later, in Globe. The next four days will include runs of 45 –90 miles, through Roosevelt, Tonto Basin, Payson, Strawberry, Mormon Lake , Lake Mary and Flagstaff . The run will end Friday, July 25 th at the San Francisco Peaks with a blessing ceremony and inter-tribal summit that will take place at 10 a.m.