Anselmo Valencia Tori facts for kids

Anselmo Valencia Tori (born April 21, 1921 – died May 2, 1998) was a very important leader for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. He used to be the Chairman of the Pascua Yaqui Association and a respected Elder of the tribe.

Anselmo grew up in southern Arizona and in Rio Yaqui, Mexico. He later added "Tori" to his name, which was his family's special clan name.

Early life

Anselmo was born in Sonora, Mexico, on April 21, 1921. His father was Francisco A. Valencia, and his mother was Placida Laborin. In 1930, his family lived in Bacadéhuachi, Sonora. This was a small village near the Bavispe River, which is part of the Yaqui River.

Anselmo's father worked in farming. The village mostly relied on farming and raising animals. Anselmo had three brothers and two sisters.

Accomplishments

Anselmo joined the United States Army on October 22, 1942, during World War II. Even though he only had a basic school education, he became a teacher, a tribal historian, and a strong leader for the Yaqui people.

The Arizona House of Representatives recognized him for his big role in helping the Yaqui tribe get "Federal recognition." This means the U.S. government officially recognized them as a tribe. He was an expert on Yaqui culture. In 1989, he helped create the Yoemem Tekia Foundation. This group works to protect and share Yaqui Indian culture.

Tribal Rights

Anselmo was a major political leader in the Yaqui tribe. In 1964 and 1965, he was the Executive Director of The Pascua Yaqui Association. He managed money from President Lyndon B. Johnson's new Office of Economic Opportunity. This money helped build a church and start programs for adult education, job training, and summer activities for young people.

He worked hard to create economic opportunities and improve social and medical services for his people. He also supported the traditional Yaqui communities in Sonora, Mexico. Anselmo worked to help the Pascua Yaqui gain self-determination (the right to govern themselves) and tribal sovereignty (their right to rule their own lands). He also fought for human rights for his people. He did not accept the border between Mexico and the United States. He fought for a long time to get land and water rights for the traditional Yaqui communities in Rio Yaqui.

Death

Anselmo died in Tucson, Arizona, on May 2, 1998. He was 77 years old. He was buried at the Monte Calvario Cemetery in Tucson.