Chesley Goseyun Wilson (July 31, 1932 – October 4, 2021) was a maker and performer of the

Apache fiddle The Apache fiddle ( Apache: tsii' edo'a'tl, "wood that sings") is a bowed string instrument used by the indigenous Apache people of the southwestern United States. The instrument consists of a plant stalk, such as that of the agave or mescal p ...

, singer, dancer, medicine man, silversmith, former model, and actor. Wilson received a National Heritage Fellowship from the

National Endowment for the Arts The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created in 1965 as an independent agency of the feder ...

in 1989.

Early life

Chesley Goseyun Wilson was born on July 31, 1932, in the town of Bylas on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation in Arizona. His father, Nichol Wilson, was a medicine man and a rancher. His mother, Sarah Goseyun Wilson, died when Chesley was only two years old. Wilson is a descendant of Cochise, Eskiminzin, Santo and other noted Apache leaders. Because his father's work often required him to be on remote parts of the reservation, the pre-teen Wilson was raised by his grandfather and uncles, who were prominent musicians, singers, religious and medicine leaders of the Apache people. He learned about the making of the Apache violin and Apache flute from his uncle, Albert Goseyun. Wilson is the last active Apache violin maker descended from noted Apache musician Amos Gustina. As a teenager, he returned to the home of his father where he learned the skills of a horseman, first as a wrangler and later as a

cowboy A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the ''vaquero'' ...

in roundups.

Career

In 1953, he was drafted by the US Army and served a two-year tour of duty in Korea, which exposed the young man to many experiences never possible when growing up on the reservation. After his discharge in 1955, he participated in a US government program for Native Americans where he trained as a silversmith and then worked for over twenty years in the

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region and in

Carson City, Nevada Carson City, officially the Carson City Consolidated Municipality, is an Independent city (United States), independent city and the capital of the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 58,63 ...

. He returned to Arizona in 1982. While working as a silversmith and occasionally as a security guard, Wilson continued to make Apache violins in his free time, as well as striving "to keep other Apache crafts, customs, and ceremonies alive" which garnered his 1989 National Heritage Fellowship, the United States government's highest honor in the folk and traditional arts. One of his art pieces is in the musical instruments collection in the

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in Washington, D.C. He also made a traditional Apache violin for the Governor's Art Awards in March 1991. In 1992, Wilson was named an Arizona Indian Living Treasure. Wilson was a model for several years, working with Western artists

Howard Terpning Howard Terpning (born November 5, 1927) is an American Painting, painter and illustrator best known for his paintings of Native Americans in the United States, Native Americans. Life and career Terpning was born in Oak Park, Illinois. His mothe ...

, Logan Maxwell Hagege and photographer Ray Manley. His photograph was on the cover of the July 1995 issue of

Southwest Art ''Southwest Art'' is a magazine published by Peak Media Properties that specializes in fine art depicting art of the American Southwest. History and profile ''Southwest Art'' was first published in May 1971. Initially, the magazine was based i ...

magazine. He was also a model for the Wrangler Western Wear clothing line. He worked as an actor over the years, appearing in both credited and uncredited roles portraying Native Americans. Wilson was an active member of the Apache Medicine Men Society, and often spoke to Apache youth about avoiding alcohol and drugs, encouraging them to incorporate traditional Apache ways into their lives.

Films

Actor

* ''

Geronimo Gerónimo (, ; June 16, 1829 – February 17, 1909) was a military leader and medicine man from the Bedonkohe band of the Ndendahe Apache people. From 1850 to 1886, Geronimo joined with members of three other Central Apache bands the Tchihen ...

'' (1993 TV movie) * '' Buffalo Soldiers'' (1997 TV movie) * '' South of Heaven, West of Hell'' (2000 film) * '' Skinwalkers'' (2002 TV movie) * ''Rio de Oro'' (2010 film) * ''

12 Years a Slave ''Twelve Years a Slave'' is an 1853 memoir and slave narrative by Solomon Northup as told to and written by David Wilson. Northup, a black man who was born free in New York state, details himself being tricked to go to Washington, D.C., whe ...

'' (2013 film) * '' The Revenant'' (2015 film) * ''Apache Leap'' (2022 film)

Soundtrack

* ''

'' (performer) * '' The Revenant'' (songwriter and performer)

Publications

*''When the Earth Was Like New: Western Apache Songs & Stories'' (book with CD, 1994)

Discography

* ''Apache Eagle Dream'' (Eagle Clan Music) * ''The Singing Winds'' (Eagle Clan Music) * ''Wood That Sings: Indian Fiddle Music Of The Americas'' (

Smithsonian Folkways Smithsonian Folkways is the nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution. It is a part of the Smithsonian's Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, located at Capital Gallery in downtown Washington, D.C. The label was f ...

CD SF 40472, 1997), contributing performer * ''The Soundtrack Of A People: A Companion To The Encyclopedia Of Native Music'' (

EMI Music Canada EMI Group Limited (formerly EMI Group plc until 2007; originally an initialism for Electric and Musical Industries, also referred to as EMI Records or simply EMI) was a British transnational conglomerate founded in March 1931 in London. At t ...

, 2005), contributing performer

References

External links

* * *
Short biographical film about Wilson, including his military service in Korea

Jon Rose website, 2005 {{DEFAULTSORT:Wilson, Chesley Goseyun 1932 births 2021 deaths People from Graham County, Arizona 21st-century American composers American silversmiths Indigenous American traditional healers Native American male artists Native American composers Native American male actors Native American male models Male models from Arizona Native American singers American luthiers National Heritage Fellowship winners United States Army soldiers Musicians from Arizona 20th-century American composers San Carlos Apache Tribe people