A sacred rededication ceremony of the birthplace of Apache Chief Geronimo will take place at 1 pm Saturday at the Gila Cliff Dwellings.

Harlan Geronimo is inviting the public and dignitaries to join him and his family in rededicating a river rock birthplace memorial to his great grandfather, Chief Geronimo. The memorial was constructed by volunteers as part of Public Lands Day in 2004 in a first step in efforts to provide a better presentation of the Apache history in the area.

Last year, a highly successful Apache Cultural Days further promoted Apache history and cultural information for the public. Ground breaking on an Apache Wall visually telling the history of the Apache Bands of Mangus, Geronimo and Victorio will be part of the events on Saturday. The Apache Wall will be constructed near Doc Campbell’s Post on highway 15 at Gila Hotsprings as a joint effort by the Campbell Family, the Mimbres Regional Arts Council Youth Mural Project and the Trail of the Mountain Spirits Federal Byway and the Black Range RC & D. Groundbreaking for the Apache Wall will be held at 12 noon on Saturday, August 26 at Doc Campbell’s Post on Hwy 15 in Gila Hotsprings.

"My great-grandfather Chief Geronimo was from the eastern band of the Chiricahua Apache tribe" said Harlan Geronimo. "We refer to that band as Bi da a naka enda (standing in front of the enemy) and this band lived and claimed the Gila Mountains as their homeland."

The memorial rededication will be held at 1 PM with a gift feast (no charge) to follow. The public is invited to attend the ceremony and stay to eat as a part of the tradition. The White River Mountain Spirit Dancers will perform Friday evening at 6 PM, August 25 and again on Saturday evening at 6 PM, August 26 at the Gila Cliff Dwellings Visitor Center parking lot.For more information, please contact the Gila Cliff Dwellings Visitor Center. 505-536-9461