Читать книгу American Indian Ghost Stories of the West - Antonio Sr. Garcez - Страница 7

Culturally, the Yaqui or Yoeme nation is descended from the ancient Uto-Azteca, or Mexica people of Old Mexico. In the year 1533, the Spanish made contact with the Yaqui, and ultimately Christianity was introduced, which profoundly altered the Yaqui way of life. Interestingly, the Yaqui embraced Catholicism and the new Spanish system of government, but always kept an independent stance in this union. The Yaqui religious life of today is a result of this merger of ceremonies and cultural beliefs. San Ignacio’s Day fiesta, Easter and Christmas are the most important ceremonies of the year for the modern Yaqui. The Yaqui have a history of being fiercely independent, and resisted Spanish colonialism until 1610, when a treaty was signed between the two. Originally they occupied eight villages in the state of Sonora, Mexico. Due to Mexican political changes, they migrated north to Arizona. The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs did not recognize the Yaqui nation as an “historic tribe” until 1994. Their battle for such recognition was long and difficult.

Considered political refugees because of their migration from Mexico, they were denied the services afforded to other American Indian nations, and thus not recognized as an independent nation and reservation. Presently the population numbers just over 9,000. In Arizona, the Pascua Yaqui Indian Reservation was annexed into the city of Tucson in 1952. The tribal land, 222 acres, was established in 1964 by an Act of Congress and is surrounded by a desert landscape of scenic vistas, drives and trails. The San Ignacio fiesta is observed at Old Pascua, a village located in Tucson that marks the annual fulfillment of the village’s obligation to its patron saint, St. Ignatius of Loyola. The Yaqui also currently operates the successful Casino of the Sun. There is another group of Yaqui that resides close to Tempe and Phoenix in the town of Guadalupe. It is from this town that the following story was obtained.