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Pascua Yaqui Tribe (U.S.)

Native American

image by Ivan Sache, 9 June 2002

Description of the flag
Overview

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Description of the Flag

The flag is a tricolor of blue, white and red, charged on the white panel with black crescent moon, swiss cross and eight-ray sun, all set in pale; on each corner a five pointed star pointing to the apex or each corner.
António Martins-Tuválkin, 21 October 2002

Overview

According to the Pascua Yaqui Tribe in Arizona, their flag dates back to 1600s. The colors are blue, white and red, representing the sky, purity and the bloodshed suffered when the Yaquis met invading Spaniards in the mid-1600s. The Yaqui people were well known for their love of freedom and the fighting capabilities by the Spanish conquistadores and later by the Mexican government.

The early Spanish, and later the Mexican troops, encountered fierce resistance and for the long time were unsuccessful in their attempts to take over the land of the Yaquis. The symbols on their flag are reflecting the new religion adopted from the Jesuit missionaries and mixed with their own native beliefs and traditions which led to the creation of the magnificent Easter ceremonies still practiced to this day.

By the mid 1800s the conflicts over land and water rights caused the brutal war and the wipe-out of over 75 percent of the Yaqui people. Many surviving Yaquis fled then to the United States and settled in Arizona Territory around Old Pascua, Barrio Libre, Marana, Guadelupe and New Pascua. U.S. Congress afforded finally the federal recognition to the Yaqui Nation on 18 September 1978.

Chrystian Kretowicz, 9 June 2002