Hi, my name is Katie Dude. I come from the 7-Mile District, my parents were the late Mr. Leo and Jane Natsyn. I’ve worked hard as a Beauty Beautician for 50 years. I was taught the Apache Culture and Traditional way of living. I also do catering of traditional Apache food, making Apache Kool-aid, and harvesting of acorn. I am very thankful for this opportunity to be a member of the board.

Hello, my name is Josephine (Aday) Williams. I am 81 years old, I have two daughters, four grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren. I am from the Tsehina Ze’e Eh clan, I lived in Peridot and attended Peridot Lutheran Minion school until eighth grade, then attended the East fork Mission High School in the Whiteriver area. I graduated in May of 1963 and August of 1963, went to attend the Dr. Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota for three years. An emergency teacher was needed at East Fork Mission School. I was given a choice to go and teach, I did for three years then got married, started a family and went back to school. Problems arise and I moved back to Peridot, I worked as a teacher’s aid in the Rice Public School until I was offered a Kindergarten Teacher’s position at the Peridot Mission School. I taught there for seven years, During the summer, I was offered a position in The Community Health Field as a Maternal Child Health Worker. After three years I moved up to a Community Health Representative working with the Adults Worked ltrere for Thirty years and retired in April of 2022.

Greetings, my name is Jo-Ann Reede Williams, I am a full-blooded San Carlos Apache, enrolled with the San Carlos Apache Tribe. I’m Deechee’ Clan and have lived on the reservation for 51 years at Gilson Wash District. My late parents are Victoria Hunter Reede, and Salton L. Reede Sr. My mother stayed home to raise my siblings and myself to the best of her abilities and was the best mother she could be. My father made the Apache Violin and he drew the San Carlos Apache seal that we still use to this day. My 5 siblings are LaVern Reede Lucero, Salton L. Reede Jr., Edmund J. Reede, Sandra Reede, and David W. Reede. I have been married for 51 years to Larry Williams, a retired Tribal Police officer from the Navajo Tribe. I have 4 children: Gerald Williams, Kendell Williams, Eric Sky Williams, and Letha Williams. I also have 11 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, and 2 daughter in-laws. I was Vice Chairwoman for the San Carlos Apache Tribe from 2006 through 2010 for my Bother David W. Reede who was Councilman from 2006 through 2016. I have taken classes at San Carlos Apache College to learn more about the History of the Apaches during the 1800s. I also go to Kenny Duncan’s classes to learn more of the Apache stories, History, Ledge, etc. Recently I went to Washington D.C. to support Oak Flat.

Carol Hunter is from a small community named Bylas, on the San Carlos Apache Reservation, in Arizona. Her clan is Hai aha, from the Coyotero band of Apaches. She was born in 1949 in Bylas to Delia Papoose and David Billy. She attended school in Bylas, New Mexico, Texas, and Colorado. She worked as a Teacher’s Aide when she was young and also worked for Forestry as part of the Camp Crew. Carol enjoys cooking and grilling over a campfire for family and friends. Her hobbies include sewing, quilting blankets, and doing bead-work. She says she was taught by her mother-in-law how to gather herbs and use them for medicine. She enjoys teaching young people and children about Apache Culture and, in particular, our Apache Language. She says that she is glad to have the opportunity to share what she has learned and hopes whoever learns from her will share what was taught to them. Mrs. Carol Hunter is currently a member of the Apache Institute Cultural Advisory Council and a member of the ASU Community Leadership in Indigenous Communities, San Carlos Apache College – NNEE Group, Graduates of 2024.

My name is Cranston Hoffman Jr., Born to Tanasgizn (Washed People) born for Is’ton’aiye’ (Cottonwood sticking in water people) Choo is Goon (Mohave People) Nal’a’ is Discheen (Red band People). Our clan Tanasgizn originates from the Dus’do’e (Fly People) clan of the Red Mountain near Fort McDowell. At one point, our Dus’do’e clan was so evil that some of the other Clan’s decided to get rid of our clan and killed most of the Dus’do’e clan. One little girl survived the attack and was saved by the Tse’dis’ghain’ (White rock people) this clan got together and gathered the medicine, roots to wash her with the medicine and renamed her clan to Tanasgizn (Washed People) and that is how my clan originated and they lived in the Winkelman area. I served in the military -Army, drafted in 1972-1974 and then re-enlisted 1976 through 1985, retired from the Army after that joined the Arizona National Guard and drafted again to Iraq Gulf War. I decided to retire from my military career and have been out ever since.

Wilfred Stanley is a member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe who Has lived in Bylas (Ha’goo’teele) most of his life. His clans are Dził łent’i’n (connecting mountain people) born for the Túdiłhiłn (“Black water people”). Wilfred was born in 1945 Bylas and is 80 years old. He retired from the San Carlos Irrigation project After 30 yrs. of service for the government. After his retirement He worked for the different cattle associations: Slaughter Mt. as a stock-man, Ash Creek, Point of Pine and Eagle Creek as a ranch Hand/cowboy. Throughout his years he served on the cattle Association as board member, vice-president, president, and as an All-board member. He worked most of his life as a cowboy and Loved his job. Currently, he is serving on the Apache Institute Cultural Advisory Council for the San Carlos Apache College.

My name is Arvis Dosela, I am the son of Frank and Sally Dosela, and I grew up in Gilson Wash. I have had the opportunity to know my grandparents of both my father and mother’s side of the family as a child. I sat with my mother and my grandmother Irene Ewing as she told us stories of our ancestors as wee as my father’s mother Bertha Cassadore. Each told us of the ancestral ways of the Apache’s from both Arivipai and White Mountain Apache groups. During the summer months our family would gather traditional foods and participate in ceremonies of our Apache people. I have been married for 32 years to the late Lorraine Wesley of Gila River Indian Community, we have seven children, the first four of our children have obtained degrees from ASU, CCU, and MCC. Anther is serving in the US Army and is training to be a Field Medic. The last two are in High School. I have worked for the Phoenix Area Indian Health Services and the Gila River Indian Community Behavioral Health programs in the field of Substance Use and Abuse. After 28 years of service to adults and youth with substance abuse issues I have retired. Presently I am working with our Native people who seek to learn more of the traditional ways. It doesn’t matter what tribal affiliation one has, only that we seek after good and true ways of our people. So I will meet on a one-on-one basis or in larger groups and share stories, songs that lift one’s spirit, and take pride in themselves for a better outlook of their lives to accomplish their desired goals or gifts. I hope that in sharing traditional stories or songs one might gain an understanding that would help them with their own lives.