In 1964, the Pascua Yaqui Association was formed through an act of Congress to try to bring better housing for Yoeme people. Two hundred acres of land were given to the association by the federal government for housing projects. Two years later the association received a grant from the Office of Economic Opportunity to begin building New Pascua Pueblo, now called the Pasqua Yaqui Reservation and the center of our government. In 1978, we successfully petitioned the U.S. government to gain recognition as an American Indian tribe. This enabled us to receive extra financial support and services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs like health care, special educational support programs and job opportunity programs.
Health care is one of the most important issues in our community today.
Many of our people are afflicted with diabetes and related diseases. We are again becoming familiar with the foods that are native to the Sonoran desert and are the best source of nutrition for our people. Today our tribe has nearly 10,000 members in Arizona, and 30,000 tribal members live in Sonora, Mexico. While Yoemem are professional people living in the present, we never forget our struggle and how we have survived through the years. We are very proud that we have overcome many hardships as a people, and we are grateful to those who fought for the survival of our families.