San Francisco Theological Seminary Commencement

Michael Wilson, a renowned human rights activist and member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, has dedicated his life to addressing the profound human costs of poverty, racism, border policing, and the legacies of colonialism. Growing up in Ajo, Arizona, Wilson’s journey has taken him through U.S. military service, a seminary education, and religious and human rights activism, where he continues to combat the injustices of U.S. immigration policies.

From 2002-2014, Michael maintained water stations for migrants crossing the Arizona desert on the Tohono O’odham Nation tribal lands despite facing opposition from the U.S. Border Patrol, tribal governments, and the church where he was a Presbyterian lay minister.

Wilson appeared in two 2023 feature films, “The Wall” and “The Long Walk of Carlos Guerrero,” along with documentaries like “Crossing Arizona” (2006) and “The 800 Mile Wall” (2009). He co-authored “What Side Are You On? A Tohono O’odham Life Across the Borders,” set for a June release, and co-directed the documentary, “Whose Land? O’odham Land!” slated for 2025.