Personal Statement

Daagotee’… Shi’ Lian BigHorse gon’zee… San Carlos go’lii’u… Hello… My name is Lian BigHorse and I was raised on the San Carlos Apache Reservation. My father is Dr. Wendsler Nosie Sr., former Chairman of our tribe and lifelong advocate for indigenous rights. He is Chiricahua Apache from the Bedonkohe band. My mother Theresa Nosie was raised in Cameron, Arizona on the Navajo Nation. She is from the Bitter Water Clan. Both of my parents have been incredible role models and have taught us to always respect Usen’s (the Creator) blessed gifts. I have one daughter Soleil who is 8 years old and two sons Philippe who is 6 years old and Azee’Hadziil who is 4 months old. They are my greatest blessing and my motivation to strive for a better tomorrow. I want them to grow up in a world where they have a special connection with the earth and their children, my grandchildren, can have access to clean water. But the way this world is moving with rapid progress and growth, I fear they will never see the world the way I see it today. I fear they will have so many more obstacles and their basic human rights will be their struggle - to have the right to clean water, clean air, healthy food, and equally important, the freedom to practice their religion at our holy places.

I have been a Spirit of the Mountain Runner since I was thirteen years old. We are a group of traditional runners who continue to fight for our inherent rights as the first peoples of this country. We run annually to our sacred mountain, Dzil nchaa Sian (Mount Graham), which has been desecrated by a telescope observatory constructed by the University of Arizona and the Vatican. After twenty-five years of defending Mount Graham, our voices were finally heard when the United States Forest Service, Safford District, finally ventured to return a parcel of Apache land back to the people of San Carlos.

Former Youth Services Supervisor, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC)

Certified Residential Child & Youth Care Professional with the University of Oklahoma

Founder of the Native Youth Identity Conference (A series of five Annual conferences held in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community)

Member of the Apache Stronghold protecting Sacred Oak Flat

Spirit of the Mountain Runner participating annually in the Mount Graham Sacred Run

Former Member of the Phi Theta Kappa National Honors Society, Arizona State University American Indian Honors Society

Former President of the American University of Sovereign Nations Student Association