About Three Precious Miracles

Leadership

Founder & Executive Director, Three Precious Miracles

Elisia Manuel’s life is a story shaped by love, culture, and an unshakable calling to protect the sacredness of Native children and families. A proud Apache woman from the White Mountain Apache Tribe and of Mexican heritage, she carries the strength of her ancestors and the prayers of her people into every space she enters. Her work is not just a profession it is her purpose. It is the heartbeat guiding her to stand for children whose voices have been overlooked, and to remind the world that connection to culture, family, and identity is medicine.

As the Founder of Three Precious Miracles (TPM), Elisia leads a grassroots movement born from her belief that every Native child deserves to remain connected to their people, their language, and their traditions. What began as one woman selling beadwork to fund cultural projects has grown into a statewide force of healing, advocacy, and cultural reclamation. Under her leadership, TPM uplifts families with culturally grounded support, education, resources, and love ensuring that culture remains a protective force in the lives of Indigenous children.

Elisia’s journey is deeply personal. She is married to her high school sweetheart, Tecumseh Manuel from the Gila River Indian Community, and together they are blessed with three beautiful children each brought into their lives through the child welfare system and safeguarded by the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). Their family’s story is living testimony to the power of ICWA and the beauty of culture restoring what was once at risk of being lost. Because of ICWA, Elisia’s children know their people, their songs, their identity and their home.

A certified trainer in Protective Factors and the Caring for Our Own Kinship Program, Elisia is widely recognized for her expertise in ICWA, cultural awareness, and child welfare advocacy. She has worked tirelessly to transform systems, educate communities, and ensure that Native families are treated with dignity, respect, and cultural understanding. Her voice has become one of truth, lived experience, and unwavering commitment.

Her impact has reached national recognition. In 2024, Elisia was named a CNN Top 10 Hero, featured on The Jennifer Hudson Show, honored with the Children’s Bureau and AdoptUSKids Excellence Award, and invited to speak before the U.S. Congress. Yet despite these honors, she remains grounded in the teachings passed down through generations love, humility, and service to community.

At her core, Elisia believes that every Native child deserves to know exactly who they are and where they come from. Her mission is simple and powerful: to uplift, heal, and reconnect Native families across Arizona and beyond. Through her work, she is weaving culture back into the lives of children and families one story, one prayer, one precious miracle at a time.

Pictured:
Elisia Manuel
Nanliigi Denzhonhi – Beautiful Sunflower
Founder & President