Pascua Yaqui- Mother Read/ Father Read

By Lauren Ella Nichols




As I walked through the doors of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe Community Senior Center, I was greeted by many friendly faces and one simple phrase: ‘Lios Em Chania uv’ or ‘Welcome.’ I felt warm and excited as I walked into the room of the Mother Read/ Father Read Program, led by Frederica Torres and Ella Gomez from the Pima County Public Library. On this day, generations of Pascua Yaqui were coming together to share their culture and to honor the elders of the community.

Forty-five community members gathered to hear and share the story, The Mud Pony, illustrated by Shonto Begay (a native Navajo) and retold by Caron Lee Cohen. Before beginning, a silent video of horses flashed on the screen. Frederica explains that “You don’t always need words to tell a story, literacy can be shared visually.”

Representing literacy in different aspects includes all members of a group. Participants also enjoyed a ride on a pony, sponsored by Nanci Roahi from Step Up Clyde, a non-profit organization that helped with the multi-faceted portrayal of The Mud Pony.

Everyone intently followed along or listened as the story was read. When it came to an end, a discussion began on how the story made members of the group feel and their connections to the book. Some shared that the story was interesting and others thought it represented how we grieve and cope when we have lost something dear to us such as family. An elder added that it showed how the way someone handles difficult situations is how they are going to teach their grandchildren how to cope with emotions.

Spending time with the Pascua Yaqui, I learned that the elders are well-respected and that young children look to them for wisdom, motivation and stories of their families. Young Pascua Yaqui use time with their family and elders to learn about who they are and their journey in life.

The phrase Pascua Yaqui use is ‘Itom uusim into im amum, jakam tui’ isi itom Yo’ owem Yo’ore,’ or ‘Our children and Grandchildren respect our Elders very much.’

Amalia Reyes is the manager of the new Dr. Fernando Escalante Community Library and Resource Center. She also works with a local charter high school to incorporate Yaqui beliefs into school curriculum, so that students can learn and remember their culture. She explains that when she hears the story of the Mud Pony she immediately makes a connection to a story about a white horse that her TaTa told to her when she was younger.

Elder Amelia Robles was one of the first people to advocate for a new library. “She wanted to ensure that young children and the Pascua people will be able to have a place to take their grandchildren and share these stories,” said Library Manager Amalia Reyes. When asked to share something about family Amelia Robles says, “You should respect your elder, any elder, even if not related to you. Salute them and listen to them.”

Julie Galaz is a volunteer for the center and works for the library. Julie says she enjoys reading and likes to read with her granddaughter. When she was younger she was never told any stories so the GED program gave her the opportunity to learn to read and share stories with her granddaughter. Julie never missed a day of classes. She gives special thanks to Gerald W. Jeffery, Adult Education Center Coordinator, who she calls an instrumental person in the literacy program.

Being invited to share this day with the tribe was an honor, not only to learn about their literacy journey, but the oral traditions they knew as children and how they are passing on these stories to their children and grandchildren. Says Frederica from the Pima County Library: “We are united and need to remember that literacy education improves lives of those in our communities.”