Leadership
| Kasey Velasquez, Chairman ( - 2026) |
| Jerome Kasey III, Vice Chairman ( - 2026) |
| Arnold Beach Sr., District I Council Member (- 2024) |
| Travis J. Tessay Sr. , District I Council Member ( - 2026) |
| Renaldo Carl Dazen, District II Council Member ( - 2026) |
| Jerold Altaha, District II Council Member ( - 2024) |
| Aubrey Aday, District III Council Member ( - 2024) |
| Annette Tenijieth , District III Council Member ( - 2026) |
| Mariddie Craig, District IV Council Member ( - 2026) |
| Gary Alchesay, District IV Council Member ( - 2026) |
| Verna Lee Westover, District IV Council Member ( - 2024) |
(updated September 2023)
Contact Information
Address: 201 E. Walnut St.
Whiteriver, AZ 85941
Phone: 928-338-4346
Director, Division of Health Programs:
Jessica Rudolfo jessicarudolfo@wmat.us
Director, Education:
Kyle Goklish kylegoklish@wmat.us
Higher Education Coordinator:
Derrick Leslie derrickleslie@wmat.us
Tribal Historic Preservation Officer:
Mark Altaha markaltaha@wmat.us
GOVERNANCE: The White Mountain Apache Tribe is governed by a Chairwoman, Vice Chairman, and nine council members representing four districts. Council members serve staggered four-year terms. Elections are held for council members every two years; elections for the Chair and Vice Chair are held every four years. Council meetings are held on the first Wednesday of every month. The White Mountain Apache Tribe resides in Congressional District 1; Legislative District 7.
CONSTITUTION:
COMMUNITY PROFILE: The traditional lands of the Apache Ndeh (The People) extended from Texas through New Mexico and Arizona into Mexico and California. Bands of Apache hunted, fished, farmed, and traded throughout the region. Over time, the many bands of Apache were forcibly relocated to reservations. In 1891 the Fort Apache Indian Reservation was established, now known as the White Mountain Apache Reservation. Fort Apache originally included the San Carlos Apache Reservation, but was separated by an act of Congress in 1897.
According to the Census, approximately 15,515 individuals live on White Mountain Apache Tribal land, located in east-central Arizona. The Reservation covers 1.67 million acres, with elevations ranging from 2,600 feet in the Salt River Canyon to 11,400 feet at the peak of Mount Baldy (a sacred peak to the White Mountain Apache Tribe).
The Tribe operates Hon-Dah Casino, Sunrise Park Ski Resort, and Fort Apache Timber Company.
|
Fort Apache Reservation |
Arizona |
United States |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population* | 15,515 | 6,946,685 | 322,903,030 |
| Number of Households | 3,439 | 2,524,300 | 119,730,128 |
| Average Household Size | 4.47 | 2.69 | 2.63 |
| Median Age | 27.5 | 37.4 | 37.9 |
| Population Under Age 18 | 35.1% | 23.5% | 22.8% |
| Population Over Age 65 | 7.5% | 16.7% | 15.2% |
| Speaks a Language Other Than English in Household | 50.4% | 27.2% | 21.5% |
| Married-Couple Households | 35.6% | 57.0% | 58.6% |
| Owner-Occupied Housing Units | 61.4% | 63.6% | 63.8% |
| Age 25+ with High School Degree or Higher | 70.4% | 86.8% | 87.7% |
| Median Household Income | $16,313 | $56,213 | $60,293 |
| Below Federal Poverty Threshold | 43.2% | 16.1% | 14.1% |
| Households with at Least One Computing Device | 59.6% | 89.9% | 88.8% |
| Households with a Desktop/Laptop | 36.6% | 79.7% | 77.9% |
*All statistics are from the 2014-2018 American Community Survey, 5-year estimates.