Commitment to Our People and Our Land

I have worked for over 30 years at the BIA Fort Apache Agency, serving as a Supervisor and timber management expert. I have a degree in Forestry from Northern Arizona University.

I helped manage and protect our forests, trained young tribal foresters, and worked with teams addressing natural resource issues.

I have worked in and seen many parts of our reservation. The land, the trees, the plants, the soil speak to us in ways that we need to see and listen to what they are saying to us! Let us always respect and care for our land.

Service to the Community

I have dedicated much of my life to public service, including:

- 12 years on the Whiteriver Unified School District Board

- 13+ years in community and church leadership roles

- 5 years as an advisor to community Elders

- Western Apache language volunteer teacher

- Longtime organizer of highway and community clean-up efforts

These experiences have prepared me to work with local, state, and federal partners to achieve goals that benefit our Tribe.

I do not claim to know everything, but I am willing to learn and I am committed to uplifting our People.

A Call to Action for Our Tribe

As we are amidst election season, I ask each of us to reflect:

- How many of us want to make a real difference?

- How many of us are satisfied with life as it is now?

- How many want positive change in our communities?

- How many want a secure future for our children and grandchildren?

We are facing many issues that harm our People, especially our youth.

We are losing too many to addiction, alcohol, substance abuse, and crime. Too much potential taken too soon.

In recent elections, only 3 out of 10 eligible adult voters participated.

This weakens our sovereignty and our ability to choose our own leadership.

Free and fair elections are at the heart of our sovereignty.

We cannot rely on outside entities to care for us. Sovereignty means we must rely on our own knowledge, our own resources, and our own land.

Our TEAM is committed to identifying the issues and offering real solutions.

We believe the time is now to turn the tide so Our People can be healthy, thriving, and safe within our homeland.

The youth (especially ages 18 to 40) are critical to this effort.

Our children, elders, women, men, and families deserve safe communities where they feel valued, supported, and loved.

We need to take care of one another as our Ancestors did!

For the Future of Our People

I would like to point out that all these issues can't be fixed by one person or a couple of people, it depends on all of us!

As President John F. Kennedy said, “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”

For us as Apache People:

Ask not what your Tribe can do for you—ask what you can do for your Tribe.

We are a powerful Tribal Nation. Despite many efforts to erase us, our culture and language, we are still here.

As election day approaches, your participation is crucial.

Your support and prayers are deeply appreciated.

Our team will be visiting every community across the reservation to meet families, and hear your concerns.

If you would like to help, or need more information, please contact our team.

Thank you all for your time, your trust, and your commitment to Our People.

Now, let’s get to work—for our People, our land, and our future.