A Sacred Unity
Molly Peters
"A Sacred Unity" documents the Apache Stronghold’s fight to heal by protecting sacred sites, freedom, and the environment for future generations.
Dr. Wendsler Nosie Sr., former chairman of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, founded Apache Stronghold, a nonprofit dedicated to safeguarding Native sacred lands. He calls this movement “a personal journey to a sacred unity.”
The Apaches, America’s last prisoners of war, endured deception, imprisonment, and broken promises after war and disease wiped out up to 90% of Indigenous populations. Cultural genocide persists today.
My photographs capture Apache Stronghold’s outreach, prayer runs, ceremonies, and daily life. I work closely with Dr. Nosie, grateful for his guidance—this project is undertaken with his support, often at his request.
Molly Peters is a photographer and visual storyteller based in Tucson, Arizona, whose work explores themes of spirituality, memory, Indigenous rights, and environmental conservation. She holds a BA from Bard College and an MFA from the Hartford Art School. Her photography has been published in outlets like The Washington Post and exhibited internationally, including at UCR California Museum of Photography. A mentor with the Image Threads Collective, Molly is also a member of Women Photograph and has taught photography at Unity College.