Heidi Harley Linguistic Field Research on Reduplication and Verb Classes in Hiaki (Yaqui, Yoeme), 2001

Hiaki (also known as Yaqui, Jiaki, Yoeme, and Cahita) is an endangered language that is indigenous to the Rio Yaqui Valley in Sonora, Mexico. It is spoken as a part of everyday life by both children and adults in its homeland. There are several communities of speakers within the United States (mostly in Southern Arizona), but Arizona Hiaki is primarily restricted to ceremonial use or conversations between tribal elders. Language revitalization efforts are underway to create more young speakers. The Hiaki language belongs to the Cahitan branch of the Uto-Aztecan language family. Other languages in this family include Mayo, Tohono O’odham, Pima, Tepehuan, Opata, Eudeve, Tarahumara, Guarijio, Tubar, Cora, Huichol, Nahuatl, Pipil, Pochutec, Mono, N. Paiute, Panamint, Shoshoni, Comanche, Kawaiisu, Ute, Serrano, Kitanemuk, Gabrieliño, Cupeño, Cahuilla, Luiseño, and Hopi. (Source: arizonahiaki.org Date Accessed: 02/08/23)

The Yaqui people have lived in the Gila and Santa Cruz River Valleys for hundreds of years. In the early 1900s, many Yaqui families were either forced to move or relocated to Arizona to escape the violence of the 1910-1920 Mexican Revolution. In 1964, the Pascua Yaquis received 202 acres of desert land, and in 1978, the Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona received federal recognition. According to the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona, the Pascua Yaqui Tribe has five communities: New Pascua is the Reservation just southwest of Tucson, Old Pascua is in the City of Tucson, Barrio Libre is in the City of South Tucson, Marana is northwest of Tucson, and Guadalupe is a southeast suburb of Phoenix. (Source: Pascua Yaqui Tribe Community Profile, University of Arizona. Accessed: 02/08/23)