Texas Band of Yaqui Indians

Cultural organization in Texas

Texas Band of Yaqui Indians

Seal of the Texas Band of Yaqui Indians

Named after| Yaqui people
Formation| 2019[1]
Founded at| Lubbock, Texas[1]
Type| Nonprofit organization[1]

Tax ID no.

| EIN 45-3612050[1]
Legal status| active
Purpose| A23. Cultural and ethnic awareness[1]
Location|

* Lubbock, Texas[1], United States

Official language

| English

President/Chairman

| Israel Ramirez[1]

Vice Chairman

| Sam Ramirez
Website| tbyi.gov

The Texas Band of Yaqui Indians is a cultural heritage organization for individuals who identify as descendants of Yaqui people, and are dedicated to cultural and ethnic awareness of the Yaqui. The organization is headquartered in Lubbock, Texas.

The Texas Band of Yaqui Indians is an unrecognized organization. They are neither a federally recognized tribe[2][3] nor a state-recognized tribe.[4]

## Organization

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In 2019, the Texas Band of Yaqui Indians organized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, based in Lubbock, Texas.[5][1] It is an art, culture, and humanities nonprofit and charity. Israel "Izzy" Sotel Ramirez is the organization's president and chairman.[6][2] Sam Ramirez is the vice chairman.[5][1]

## History

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The organization’s members identify as being Yaqui descendants who migrated from Mexico to Texas under the leadership of Lino Domingues Urquides, also called Ya'ut,[2] and Ave'lino Cobayoti Urquides.[6] Urquides' daughter moved to Lubbock in the early 20th century.[6] They say they descend from ten families who "actively hid their Yaqui identity in Texas," as historian Brenden W. Rensink wrote.[7]

## Honorary resolution

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Resolution SR989

In 2015, the Texas state senate passed Senate Resolution 989, a "congratulatory & honorary" resolution authored by State Senator Charles Perry,[8] a Republican from Lubbock.[2]

Congratulatory resolutions such as SR No. 989 are not the same as state-recognition.[a] Texas has "no legal mechanism to recognize tribes."[11] Despite this, the Texas Band of Yaqui Indians are often described as being state recognized.[12][7]

This organization has neither filed a petition for federal recognition as a Native American tribe, nor sent a letter of intent to file a petition for federal recognition.[13]

## Activities

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The Texas Band of Yaqui Indians share demonstration dances and storytelling. They have performed at Lubbock Christian University for Native American Heritage Month.[14] The group has tried to research and learn the Yoeme language.[6]

## Notes

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1. ^ The state of Texas has no office to manage Indian affairs[9] and no state-recognized tribes.[10]

## References

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1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Texas Band of Yaqui Indians". Cause IQ. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
2. ^ a b c d "Early Research Into Yaquis Native Americans Had Support From West Texas Region Amidst Great Depression". History of Research. Texas Tech Centennial. 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
3. ^ "Indian Entities Recognized by and Eligible to Receive Services From the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs". Indian Affairs Bureau. Federal Register. January 21, 2022. pp. 7554–58. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
4. ^ "State Recognized Tribes". National Conference of State Legislatures. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
5. ^ a b "Texas Band of Yaqui Indians". GuideStar. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
6. ^ a b c d Westbrook, Ray (September 5, 2010). "Yaqui Indian tribe descendent searches for heritage". Lubbock Avanlanche-Journal. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
7. ^ a b Rensink, Brenden W. (2018). Native But Foreign: Indigenous Immigrants and Refugees in the North American Borderlands. College Station: Texas A&M University Press. ISBN 9781623496562. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
8. ^ "Senate Resolution No. 989". LegiScan. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
9. ^ "State Committees and Commissions on Indian Affairs". National Conference of State Legislatures. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
10. ^ "State Recognized Tribes". National Conference of State Legislatures. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
11. ^ Brewer, Graham Lee; Ahtone, Tristan (17 July 2022). "In Texas, a group claiming to be Cherokee faces questions about authenticity". NBC News. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
12. ^ "The Barrier". Let Texas Vote. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
13. ^ "Petitions Resolved". Indian Affairs. US Department of the Interior. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
14. ^ "Native American Tribe Visits LCU to Celebrate Cultural Heritage". Lubbock Christian University. 16 November 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2024.

## External links

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* Texas Band of Yaqui Indians
* State Resolution SR#989