Yaqui << YAH kee >> are a Native American tribe that lives in Mexico, Arizona, and California. They are noted for their religious ceremonies, which blend concepts of Roman Catholicism with ancient tribal customs. On holy days, the Yaqui perform ancient dances and rituals in honor of Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and tribal patron saints.
The ancient Yaqui lived along the Yaqui River in northwestern Mexico. They raised beans, corn, and squash. They also hunted game and gathered wild plants. The Yaqui lived in small, scattered villages and had no central government.
Yaqui warriors defeated the Spanish invaders who entered their territory in 1533 and 1609. In 1610, the Yaqui made a treaty with the Spaniards and asked for Jesuit missionaries to settle in their villages.
The Yaqui wanted the Jesuits to teach them how to raise wheat, fruit, and livestock. The Jesuits arrived in 1617, and the Yaqui lived prosperously for the next 120 years. The Yaqui learned the Roman Catholic religion and blended it with their own culture. The Jesuits also helped the Yaqui organize the villages into eight towns, which became centers of religion and government.
In the 1730’s, many Yaqui became dissatisfied with the Jesuits and the Spanish colonial government. Some of them sought independence. The tribe fought Spanish and Mexican troops in a series of bloody wars that lasted until the 1900’s. During these wars, the Mexican government forced many Yaqui to leave their homeland and settle in other parts of Mexico. Some of the Yaqui fled Mexico to live in the United States. There are now about 15,000 Yaqui in Mexico. According to the 2020 U.S. census, there are about 28,000 Yaqui in the United States.
