Anselmo Valencia Tori

Anselmo Valencia Tori (April 21, 1921 – May 2, 1998 ) was the former Chairman of the Pascua Yaqui Association, Former Vice-Chairman of the Pascua Yaqui Tribal Council and Elder of the tribe.

Accomplishments
Anselmo was a World War II veteran with no formal education. He became a teacher, tribal historian, and the political and spiritual leader of the Yaqui peoples. He was noted by the Arizona House of Representatives as the driving force behind the Yaqui tribe's efforts to obtain Federal recognition as well as historic tribe designation. An authority on Yaqui culture, he helped establish the Yoemem Tekia Foundation, which is dedicated to its preservation and perpetuation.

Tribal Rights
He was a major political figure in the Yaqui tribe. He strove to gain economic development opportunities as well as social and medical services. He also supported tribal efforts in the traditional Pueblos in Rio Yaqui, Sonora, Mexico. In addition, he worked toward achieving self-determination, tribal sovereignty, and human rights for the Pascua Yaqui.