A Wilderness World of Flowers: A Night of Yoeme (Pascua Yaqui) Culture and Tradition at HOLA Ohio.
PAINESVILLE, OH – On September 21st, at the HOLA Ohio Center, we had the opportunity to experience a truly unique event. For the first time in Northeast Ohio, we welcomed members of the Yoeme (Pascua Yaqui), who traveled from Arizona for a rich cultural exchange. During the evening, attendees had the opportunity to listen to Yaqui Deer Songs performed live, observe the Ceremonial Deer Dance, and enjoy traditional Yaqui cuisine while learning about the history of this ancient tribe.
The Pascua Yaqui, also known as Yoeme, are settled near the border in Tucson, Arizona, with their ancestral lands in Sonora, Mexico. Their presence in Sonora dates back to 500 A.D. Despite facing invasions, slavery, and massacres at the hands of Spanish, Mexican, and U.S. governments, their ancient traditions, such as the deer songs and ceremonial dances, have survived to this day. In the 1970s, under President Jimmy Carter, the Yoeme (Yaqui) were officially recognized as a federally recognized tribe in the United States, marking an important step in preserving their cultural identity.
Among the special guests at the event were Felipe Morales (elder, deer singer), Steve C. Armadillo (deer singer), Alex Amarillas (deer singer), Ángel Gastelum (deer singer), Joshua Carmelin (drummer), and Elodia Baltazar, a member of the Yoeme tribe.
A Workshop for the Young Ones: Learning the Yaqui Worldview.
The day began with an art and culture workshop for children, where the little ones had the opportunity to learn about the Yoeme (Yaqui) worldview. During the workshop, the children created masks and paper flowers representing the tribe.
“The Sewa (flower) plays an important role in the Pascua Yaqui tradition. It is used to adorn ceremonies,” explained Elodia Baltazar in her native Yoeme language before speaking in English. She added that when crafting the paper flowers, one must maintain a calm, loving, and patient spirit so that the petals unite without glue, like an exercise to bloom from within. Traditionally, this task is assigned to the women of the tribe.
The children also made black paper masks decorated with white symbols and threads simulating beards. These pascola masks are used in a ritual-ceremonial dance closely related to the “deer” dancers and musicians. Typically men are assigned for this task.
The Importance of Cultural Exchange.
Veronica Isabel Dahlberg, Executive Director of the HOLA Ohio Center, emphasized the importance of these cultural exchanges: “The idea is for us to learn more about our diversity in order to appreciate and respect it more.” Her words resonated with the audience, highlighting the relevance of learning and preserving the stories of Mexican indigenous peoples in the United States.
The Evening Ceremony: Songs, Dances, and Traditional Food.
The night began with the Yoeme Ave Maria, a traditional blessing of the four corners, led by Salomé Baltazar with a ceremonial drum. Attendees then enjoyed a buffet of traditional Yaqui dishes such as “Waka Vaki” (Beef Soup), red chili beef tamales, Sonoran flat enchiladas, tepary beans, cactus, and more.
Afterward, a panel of Yoeme members shared their rich history, spanning from their days along the Yaqui River in Sonora, Mexico, to their encounters with Spanish conquistadors and the subsequent wars. They also discussed the invitation of Jesuits into their community, the blending of Catholic and Yoeme traditions, the hardships under the Porfirio Díaz regime, and their flight to Tucson during the Mexican Revolution, where they began a movement for formal recognition, which was finally granted by President Jimmy Carter. The panel also mentioned the recent expansion of their reservation, with an additional 31 acres granted by President Joe Biden.
A Profound Conclusion: Deer Songs and Dance.
The experience culminated with the performance of the Deer Songs and the Ceremonial Deer Dance, a sacred experience that left a lasting impression on everyone present.
Here is an excerpt from the song:
“You are an enchanted flower wilderness world,
you are an enchanted wilderness world,
you lie with see-through freshness.
You are an enchanted wilderness world,
you lie with see-through freshness,
wilderness world.“
This event was a true celebration of Yoeme (Yaqui) culture and traditions, reminding us of the importance of preserving our roots and sharing them with future generations.
