After four years of talks, the Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona and the city of Tucson last week approved an intergovernmental agreement that allows a transfer of about 15 acres near Old Pascua Village to the tribe. The Pascua Yaqui hope to put it into trust as reservation land. The land is currently occupied by an old cinema and church grounds where the tribe meets.
Pascua Yaqui Chairman Robert Valencia told Arizona Public Media that the transfer will enable the tribe to take advantage of economic opportunities, such as gaming. “When the time comes, and if it’s appropriate, then we’ll consider gaming, but we gotta go through this first hurdle of getting this land into trust,” he said. “Once this land into trust takes place, then it’ll be easier for us to make decisions based on what is the best step for the tribe.”
Since the law is within city limits, it would not be possible to do this without the intergovernmental agreement. Valencia said the tribe hopes to preserve its cultural areas, where it has held ceremonies for over a century. The land occupied by the cinema will be used for economic development, he said.
