Yaqui Territory
The history of Yaquis in Southern California began long before the Porfiriato. As free people, in respectful relationship with the land, Yoemia are known to experience a wide diaspora on Bwia Ania, Mother Earth
History in California
Yaquis have a documented history in California since the 1700’s recorded with the Anza Expedition, even if Yaqui presence has existed since time immemorial. Before colonial borders were imposed on Yaqui territories, Yaquis were known to travel freely from the Rio Yaqui all the way up to Sierra Nevada and from the Anza Borrego desert to Ransom Canyon in West Texas. Yaqui ancestral homelands continue to thrive along the Rio Yaqui in Sonora, Mexico. The eight original Yaqui villages are Bácum, Benem, Cócorit, Huirivis, Pótam, Rahum, Tórim, and Vícam. There are currently three concentrated locations of Yaqui in the United States: Arizona, Texas and Southern California. To this day, places in California’s Anza Borrego Desert named “Yaqui Pass”, “Yaqui Trail” and “Yaqui Well” memorialize this history and presence of Yaqui people in the area. Yaquis of Southern California are intent on sustaining and nurturing the ancestral relationship with these areas and neighboring tribes.
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Los Yoeme tienen historia documentada en el estado de California desde los años 1700’s inscrito en la Expedición de Anza, aunque su presencia ha existido en el estado desde tiempos immemoriales. Antes de que las fronteras coloniales fueran impuestos sobre terrenos Yaqui, se reconocía que los Yoeme Hiakim viajában libremente desde el Río Yaqui hasta la Sierra Nevada y desde el desierto Anza Borrego hasta el Canyón Ransom en el Oeste de Téjas. Los territorios ancestrales de los Yaquis prosperan junto al Hiak Vatwe/Rio Yaqui en Sonora, México. Los ócho pueblos originarios de los Yaqui son Bácum, Benem, Cócorit, Huirivis, Pótam, Rahum, Tórim, y Vícam. Hoy día, hay tres locales concentradas de Yaquis en los estados Unidos: Arizona, Texas y Sur de California. Hasta la fecha, hay lugares en el desierto Anza Borrego de California nombrados “Paseo Yaqui”, “Sendero Yaqui” y “Pozo Yaqui” que memorializan la historia y presencia de personas Yaqui en el área. Yaquis of Southern California tiene la intención de mantener y sostener la relación ancestral con estas áreas y las tribus vecinas.
Diaspora
The Yaqui Diaspora covers a very wide territory. Did you know that Yaquis were sent as far away as the Philippines and Morocco? Henequen plantations in Yucatan? Oaxaca? It’s true! Learn more about Yaqui Diaspora.
