Texas Band of Yaqui Indians

The Texas Band of Yaqui Indians is a cultural heritage organization for individuals who identify as descendants of Yaqui people, and are dedicated to cultural and ethnic awareness of the Yaqui. The organization is headquartered in Lubbock, Texas.

The Texas Band of Yaqui Indians is an unrecognized organization. They are neither a federally recognized tribe nor a state-recognized tribe.

Organization
In 2019, the Texas Band of Yaqui Indians organized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, based in Lubbock, Texas. It is an art, culture, and humanities nonprofit and charity. Israel "Izzy" Sotel Ramirez is the organization's president and chairman. Sam Ramirez is the vice chairman.

History
The organization’s members identify as being Yaqui descendants who migrated from Mexico to Texas under the leadership of Lino Domingues Urquides, also called Ya'ut, and Ave'lino Cobayoti Urquides. Urquides' daughter moved to Lubbock in the early 20th century. They say they descend from ten families who "actively hid their Yaqui identity in Texas," as historian Brenden W. Rensink wrote.

Honorary resolution
In 2015, the Texas state senate passed Senate Resolution 989, a "congratulatory & honorary" resolution authored by State Senator Charles Perry, a Republican from Lubbock.

Congratulatory resolutions such as SR No. 989 are not the same as state-recognition. Texas has "no legal mechanism to recognize tribes." Despite this, the Texas Band of Yaqui Indians are often described as being state recognized.

This organization has neither filed a petition for federal recognition as a Native American tribe, nor sent a letter of intent to file a petition for federal recognition.

Activities
The Texas Band of Yaqui Indians share demonstration dances and storytelling. They have performed at Lubbock Christian University for Native American Heritage Month. The group has tried to research and learn the Yoeme language.