🚨 Community Outcry at Pascua Yaqui Council Meeting (VIDEO)

🗣️ Residents demand access to cultural resources and transparency in council operations.

Dec 13, 2024

"My own tribe denied me. How do you think that felt? Because of you guys. And this month is important to me and my family. How do you think that made me feel?" - Anonymous community member about being denied a request for a ramada and firewood for a personal cultural ceremony
"It is heartbreaking. And it's heartbreaking personally because I know what it feels like to wait." - Laela, a 19-year-old community member, on hearing about resources for cultural ceremonies being denied
"As a tribal member, I'm hearing that there's frivolous expenses being made and I'm like, well, okay, give the council member, benefit it out. But how can I look at those credit card statements as a tribal member, rather, to say, well, you know what, what's being said isn't true because I took upon myself to actively participate in the process and say, oh, well, let me see those credit cards." - Anonymous community member, demanding transparency in the council's financial activities
"When this came aboard, I don't know if it was you or anybody else, but that's not who we are. Who we are is trying to lay it down." - Elder Representative/Capitán Miguel Valenzuela, expressing sadness over denials of resources for cultural traditions
"I understand as a young person that things are bound to change. Everything is going to change. Times are changing. Everything. But at what cost are these changes have against our community?" - Ernesto Junio, tribal member, voicing concern about the impact of changes on Yaqui culture and traditions
"We do not deny anybody, and they try to accommodate these requests as best they can. - Vice Chairman Peter Yucupicio addressing issues around denying access to cultural resources

😽 Keepin’ It Simple Summary for Younger Readers
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🌍 At a meeting, a lot of people from the Pascua Yaqui community were unhappy 😞 because they couldn't get the things they need for important cultural ceremonies 🎉. They talked about wanting better communication 📞 with the tribal leaders, as well as more openness 📊 about how money is being spent 💰. Also, the tribe is starting new workshops 🛠️ to teach the Yaqui language 🗣️ and keep their special traditions alive! 🌱✨

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🗝️ Takeaways

🚪 Limited Access: Community members reported restricted access to cultural spaces and resources for traditions.
🛠️ Logistical Challenges: The council is facing issues with setting up and distributing ramadas for ceremonies.
💬 Need for Communication: Many speakers stressed the importance of open lines of communication between the council and community members.
📊 Demand for Transparency: Residents called for transparent reporting on council expenditures and activities.
🌱 Cultural Programming: New conversational Yaqui language workshops are being planned to help preserve the tribe's cultural heritage.

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🎙️ Voices of the People: Call to Audience Highlights

🔑 Access to Cultural Spaces and Resources

A recurring topic of discussion at the Pascua Yaqui Tribal Council meeting was the community's access to cultural spaces and resources needed for ceremonies and traditions. Several speakers expressed frustration over issues they had experienced.

Richard Dayes, chairman of the Milagros Community Council, spoke about the locks being changed at the Milagros community church without prior consultation, which is limiting access.

He emphasized the need for open communication and collaboration between the tribal council and community councils, stating, "Word was that communication of having access. And so that's all I asked you, to let us know when things will change and work. Maybe this is a time for this council to come together to work with all our different community councils."

An unnamed community member also discussed being denied a request for a ramada (shade structure) and firewood for a personal cultural ceremony. They felt this was a "denial of blessings" and disrespectful to the community's traditions, saying, "My own tribe denied me. How do you think that felt? Because of you guys. And this month is important to me and my family. How do you think that made me feel?"

Laela, a 19-year-old community member, expressed heartbreak over hearing that resources for cultural ceremonies, including an elder's ramada, had been denied. She urged the council to work with the community to keep Yaqui culture strong, stating, "It is heartbreaking. And it's heartbreaking personally because I know what it feels like to wait."

🔍 Addressing Community Concerns over Access to Cultural Resources

The tribal council acknowledged that there had been some miscommunication and issues around community access to cultural spaces and resources needed for ceremonies and traditions. Several council members addressed these concerns directly.

Vice Chairman Peter Yucupicio emphasized that the council does not intend to deny anyone access to these cultural resources. He stated firmly, "We do not deny anybody," and they are trying their best to "accommodate these" requests from the community.

Chairman Julian Hernandez provided more context, explaining that the recent changes and challenges had arisen due to logistical issues the council was trying to address. He noted, "As far as right now, we are working on policies that are going to create change. This administration came in, and we did advise everybody that there was a change coming."

Hernandez explained that the council had been hearing complaints from tribal staff in the housing and facilities departments, who were struggling to keep up with the demands of setting up and taking down the ramadas (shade structures) and providing other resources for community ceremonies.

"The issue that we're dealing with is personal. We're saying we'll supply you with the supply and get your family to pick it up and build it, and we'll assist in that way. But at this time, to accommodate everybody who needs that amount, you know, it's one of the issues we dealt with," Hernandez said.

The council acknowledged some miscommunication regarding these changes and is now developing new policies and procedures to support cultural activities better while addressing logistical challenges. Vice Chairman Yucupicio reiterated their commitment, stating, "We are trying to accommodate everybody" and that there is "no reason for you guys to doubt that we are not going to work with you all."

Several council members, including Councilwoman Gloria Alvarez-Gomez and Treasurer Thomas Cupis, emphasized the need for increased communication and transparency with the community on these issues. The council appeared dedicated to finding solutions that would allow them to continue supporting Yaqui culture and traditions.

Yoem Pueblo Language and Cultural Programming

In her report, Gloria Alvarez, the Director of Housing, Facilities, Cultural/Language, and Social Services, discussed plans for new cultural and language programs in the Yoem Pueblo community in Marana.

Alvarez explained that the tribe will be starting a pilot program in the Yoem Pueblo, stating:

"We're going to start a pilot program in the Yoem Pueblo in the Marana community first and have conversational workshops, just things that they used to do and can continue to do. We're going to see how that one goes there and then start moving into the other communities to invite the community to come out and start learning conversational [Yaqui]."

These programs will focus on conversational Yaqui language learning and the creation of traditional arts and crafts. Alvarez noted that this approach was inspired by previous successful workshops the tribe had hosted, where participants engaged in cultural activities while practicing the Yaqui language.

Alvarez emphasized that the goal is to test the pilot program first in the Yoem Pueblo community in Marana before expanding similar initiatives to other Yaqui communities. This suggests that the Yoem Pueblo plays a significant role in the tribe's efforts to revive and preserve its cultural traditions through hands-on, community-based learning.

She continued, explaining that these workshops would not be structured like traditional classes, but rather informal gatherings where community members can come together to learn the language and create traditional crafts:

"It's not a book and a teaching. It's just sitting there, hearing the language, whether it's making tortillas or some kind of traditional arts and crafts that they had. And that came off of the workshops they had for the animas, for the coronas that they were making. And it took that turn where everyone was there. They were happy.

They were having conversations in the Yaqui language while doing the traditional crafts for the animas. So that's how Chico and everyone there, Mr. Valencia, saw that, okay, let's start with this community, and we can bring it out to the other communities."

Alvarez also mentioned that the tribe's cultural and language department would contact the community leaders and authorities in the Yoem Pueblo to coordinate participation in these upcoming workshops and activities.

Overall, the plans for the Yoem Pueblo pilot program demonstrate the tribe's commitment to engaging directly with community members in grassroots efforts to preserve and revitalize Yaqui cultural traditions and language.

Yoem Pueblo Language and Cultural Programming, and Ramada Logistics

In addition to outlining the Yoem Pueblo cultural and language programming plans, Gloria Alvarez addressed the challenges the tribal administration has faced in managing the distribution and set-up of ramadas for community events.

Alvarez explained that the current policy has been for the tribal facilities department to pick up and drop off the ramadas at designated locations, but then the housing department is responsible for actually setting them up. However, this has led to issues, as Alvarez stated:

"We have a lot of housing complaints that nothing's getting done in their house. That is, they've been waiting for a few months. So we're looking at all the things that are happening. We want houses fixed, but we also want Ramadas, and we want facilities to do it, but they're short-staffed because we want buildings done."

To address this, the tribe has been exploring different options, such as having families come pick up the ramadas themselves or hiring additional workers to assist with the set up. Alvarez acknowledged there are logistical concerns around safety and training that need to be worked out.

Alvarez said the current process of facilities handling the pick-up and housing handling the set-up will continue until the tribal administration can finalize a new policy and procedure for managing the ramada requests and distribution.

This discussion of the ramada issues provides important context around the tribe's capacity challenges and the need to balance various community priorities, even as they work to expand cultural programming like the initiatives planned for the Yoem Pueblo.

💳 Transparency and Accountability

Several speakers raised concerns about transparency and accountability within the tribal government, particularly around financial matters and the council's activities.

One community member questioned the process for tribal members to access information on council members' credit card expenditures, arguing for greater transparency.

They stated, "As a tribal member, I'm hearing that there's frivolous expenses being made and I'm like, well, okay, give the council member, benefit it out. But how can I look at those credit card statements as a tribal member, rather, to say, well, you know what, what's being said isn't true because I took upon myself to actively participate in the process and say, oh, well, let me see those credit cards."

In response, Councilwoman Barbara Alvarez said she would be willing to share her personal credit card information to demonstrate transparency. She stated, "I'd be more than willing to sit down with you and share my credit card if that's okay with those at large. But I don't mind. I'm very transparent when you come and ask me. If there are any questions, are there any rumors? I'm just a phone call away."

Another community member reiterated the call for more transparent reporting on council member activities, attendance, and voting records to allow the community to better hold leadership accountable.

The council acknowledged the need for improved transparency. Treasurer Thomas Cupis and others stated they would investigate ways to make financial and operational information more accessible to the community.

🕯️ Preserving Yaqui Cultural Traditions

Several speakers emphasized the critical importance of the tribal council supporting and preserving Yaqui cultural traditions and practices.

Elder Representative/Capitán Miguel Valenzuela passionately underscored the council's responsibility to protect, enhance, and provide for the community's cultural, ceremonial, and historic activities. He expressed deep sadness over any denials of resources needed for these traditions, stating:

"When this came aboard, I don't know if it was you or anybody else, but that's not who we are. Who we are is trying to lay it down. They're looking at the application because I said this three weeks ago. Sometimes they don't come to us and it didn't come to me as an approval or denial."

Valenzuela's words reflected the reverence many in the Yaqui community felt for their longstanding customs and rituals. He conveyed a sense of hurt and confusion over the council's perceived lack of support for these sacred cultural practices.

Echoing these sentiments, Ernesto Junio, a tribal member and proud cultural participant, voiced concern about the potential costs of changes that could harm the continuation of Yaqui traditions for future generations.

Junio stated: "I understand as a young person that things are bound to change. Everything is going to change. Times are changing. Everything. But at what cost do these changes have against our community?"

Junio's statement underscored the delicate balance the council must strike between progress and preservation - ensuring that changes do not come at the expense of the community's cultural identity and heritage.

The council acknowledged the profound importance of supporting Yaqui cultural traditions. Vice Chairman Peter Yucupicio and other members emphasized their commitment to working closely with the community to find solutions that would accommodate the needs and requests related to these sacred practices.

Preserving the Yaqui way of life emerged as a central priority for the tribal leadership and the community members who spoke passionately about this issue. The council seemed to recognize the gravity of this responsibility and its role in safeguarding the traditions that have sustained the Yaqui people for generations.

Votes Taken

The Pascua Yaqui Tribal Council took several votes on resolutions during the meeting, including:

Resolution C12-344-24: Approving enrollment applications of eligible applicants (Motion by Vice Chairman Yucupicio, seconded by Councilwoman Alvarez-Gomez)
Resolution C12-345-24: Disapproving enrollment applications of ineligible applicants (Motion by Vice Chairman Yucupicio, seconded by Councilman Munoz)
Resolution C12-346-24: Approving blood quantum modifications for eligible tribal members (Motion by Vice Chairman Yucupicio, seconded by Councilwoman Alvarez-Gomez)
Resolution C12-347-24: Approving an amendment to a consulting services agreement with the Kickapoo Tribe (Motion by Vice Chairman Yucupicio, seconded by Councilwoman Alvarez-Gomez)
Resolution C12-348-24: Authorizing a goods and services agreement with Safe Haven Defense US LLC (Motion by Treasurer Cupis, seconded by Councilwoman Alvarez-Gomez)
Resolution C12-349-24: Approving an amendment to an engineering services agreement for the Ignacio Balmea Road Reconstruction Project (Motion by Councilwoman Alvarez-Gomez, seconded by Treasurer Cupis)
Resolution C12-352-24: Accepting a state opioid response grant (Motion by Councilwoman Alvarez-Gomez, seconded by Vice-Chairman Yucupicio)
Resolution C12-353-24: Approving an agreement for a teen pregnancy prevention program (Motion by Treasurer Cupis, seconded by Councilwoman Alvarez-Gomez)
Resolution C12-354-24: Approving a contract for renovations to the tribe's original health building (Motion by Treasurer Cupis, seconded by Councilwoman Alvarez-Gomez)
Resolution C12-359-24: Approving the transfer of a residential land assignment (Motion by Vice Chairman Yucupicio, seconded by Treasurer Cupis)
Resolution C12-360-24: Approving a new residential land assignment (Motion by Vice Chairman Yucupicio, seconded by Councilwoman Alvarez-Gomez)
Resolution C12-361-24: Approving a service land agreement for the new casino construction (Motion by Vice Chairman Yucupicio, seconded by Treasurer Cupis)
Resolution C12-370-24: Approving amendments to the vehicle use and driver policy (Motion by Vice Chairman Yucupicio, seconded by Treasurer Cupis)
Resolution C12-364-24: Approving amendments to the government and enterprise 401(k) plans (Motion by Treasurer Cupis, seconded by Vice-Chairman Yucupicio)

These votes demonstrated the council's efforts to address various administrative, operational, and community-focused matters during the meeting.

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