APACHE STRONGHOLD

Programs

1. Apache Stronghold, san carlos, az, is a 501c3 nonprofit community organization of individuals who come together in unity to battle continued colonization, defend holy sites and freedom of religion, and are dedicated to building a better community through neighborhood programs and civic engagement. We work from san carlos, az connecting apaches and other native and non-native allies from all over the world. Chi'chil bildagoteel also knowns as oak flat is a sacred site for our apache people and many other native americans. This is a place that has special significance a place where we pray, collect water and medicinal plants for ceremonies, gather acorns and other foods, and honor those that are buried here. We have never lost out relationship to chichil bildagoteel, though the u.s. Government, at times in our history, has imprisoned us on our reservations and not allowed us to come here. We have established and encampment to protect the holy ground at chichil bildagoteel with its four crosses, representing the entire surrounding sacred area, including its water, animals, oak treets, and other plants central to our tribal identity. The four crosses are now part of the body of…

   $209,167 spentof which $98,828 as grants
   72% of program spending

2. Prayer Journey August 4, 2024- September 25, 2024 On July 11th, 2024, the Apache Stronghold started the journey of prayer to the Supreme Court to stop the shattering of human existence and to protect Mother Earth. We have traveled, held ceremonies and gathered prayers from Tribes, Communities, Churches, and people in support of saving Oak Flat and religious freedom and protections for all. We began in the Northwest, Westcoast, South, mid-west to the East to gather in Washington DC at the Supreme court on September 11. We are appealing a lower court ruling that would have allowed the total destruction of Oak Flat by allowing the land to be transferred to Resolution Copper, a foreign owned company, owned by BHP and Rio Tinto. We will appeal Apache Stronghold v. United States to the U.S. Supreme Court on September 11. The case involves the federal governments planned destruction of Oak Flatknown in Apache as Chi'chil Bidagoteel a sacred site where Western Apaches and other Native peoples have worshipped since time immemorial. Oak Flat is the birthplace of our religion and the site of sacred ceremonies that cannot take place anywhere else. The United States is now planning to transfer…

   $51,720 spent
   18% of program spending

3. Wishtoyo Light Fire Malibu CA March 28- 31 The Apache Stronghold was welcomed back to Chumash ancestral homeland at Wishtoyo Chumash Village to host the first Lighting of the Fire ceremony. Lighting of the Fire ignites all the prayers across this country to fight the greatest evil we all face. It will take the old ways of prayer and ceremony to confront the effects of colonization and capitalism. Our elders witnessed the fracturing of our people, our religion and the destruction of our greatest gift Nigosun (Mother Earth). The Apache Stronghold arrived at Wishtoyo on Friday, March 29, 2024, to prepare for the ceremony. The Lighting of the Fire ceremony began on Friday, March 29, 2024, at midnight and continued throughout the day, Saturday. Welcomed all tribes, non-natives, and allies to join us in prayer. We call upon the world to light prayer fires on the same day. This will clear the path for us to confront the greatest evil and will protect us on our join forward. One Prayer, One Drum, One Circle!

   $8,246 spent
   3% of program spending

4. 9th Annual Oak Flat March/Run --February 15-18, 2024 People join in solidarity with our spiritual journey of prayer and ceremony in protection of Chi'chil Bildagoteel (Oak Flat). Each year hundreds of people walk/run together for the 45 miles from the San Carlos reservation, through the mining towns of Miami and Globe, up to Oak Flat. This walk is of spiritual importance to the Apache Stronghold and a way for us all to commit to the protection of Oak Flat each year that the mine has still not been built! Participants gather in solidarity at Oak Flat to protect all that is holy.

   $7,450 spent
   3% of program spending

5. Notre Dame November 15-17, 2024 Notre Dame filed Amicus Brief with Supreme Court Case- Created Video and shown at Notre Dame Football Game. University of Notre Dame. https://youtu.be/RPKm8XZm_6k?si=cs0Q0hyt1h7SFbNP Fighting for Religious LIberty In Arizonas Tonto National Forest, Chichil Bildagoteel, known as Oak Flat, is a sacred space for the Apache and other Native tribes. Countless generations have used the site for religious and coming-of-age ceremonies and have gathered medicinal plants and acorns from its majestic oaks. But Oak Flat is in danger. In 2014, a land swap deal offered Oak Flat to a mining company that intends to place a copper mine leaving the site unsafe for humans. Apache Stronghold, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community organization made up of Native and non-Native allies, are intent on saving Oak Flat. While the Notre Dame Lindsay and Matt Moroun Religious Liberty Clinic, launched in 2020, isn't representing the Apache Stronghold, it's very supportive of its mission and has filed multiple amicus briefs in support of protection for Oak Flat. The Clinic, one of the world's leading academic institutions on the subject, is representative of Notre Dame's values.…

   $7,245 spent
   2% of program spending

6. Dzil Nchaa Sian (Mt. Graham) Sacred Run July 18-21, 2024 The 33rd annual mount Graham sacred run, Apaches and supporters gathered in Eastern Arizona to honor Apache holy places by participating in the 33rd annual mount Graham sacred run. The four day long run and prayer begins at the Old San Carlos monument on the San Carlos Apache reservation and ends atop mount Graham, a sky island Oasis surrounded by a sea of the Sonora desert. The Mt Graham sacred run spotlights the ongoing occupation of the mountain by scientific pursuits by research universities and institutes including the Vatican, the University of Arizona, Ohio State University, Notre Dame, Germany's Max Planck institute and Italys Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory.

   $6,200 spent
   2% of program spending

The 6 programs described on its FY2024 Form 990, listed largest first by expense. Program spending in total: $290,028.