Yaqui People - Notable Yaqui

Notable Yaqui

• Gabriel Ayala, guitarist.
• Susan Balbas, founder and executive director of the Tierra Madre Fund, which is "a catalyst for the development of sustainable indigenous communities by providing resources to support innovative projects and to build the leadership of women, youth, artists and culture keepers." President, Longhouse Media, 2006–09; chief development officer, United Indians of All Tribes Foundation, 2006-07.
• Raul (Roy) Perez Benavidez, a member of the highly classified Studies and Observations Group during the Vietnam War. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in eastern Cambodia (although the citation stated that they occurred "west of Loc Ninh, Republic of Vietnam" on May 2, 1968).
• Rod Coronado, an eco-anarchist and animal rights activist.
• Anita Endrezze, artist and poet.
• María Félix, Mexican actress who was part of the golden era of the Cinema of Mexico.
• Alex Maldonado, Yaqui flute player.
• Mario Martinez, Yaqui artist and painter.
• Patricia Martinez, member of the Delano, California, Joint Union High School District Board of Directors, 2000–04; member of the Kern County, California, Human Relations Commission, 1997–99; First Lady of Delano, California (her husband, Anthony Martinez, was mayor), 1990s; granddaughter of Guadalupe Quiroz Garcia, a Yaqui traditional healer born in Altar, Sonora, Mexico.
• Stan Padilla, artist, author, educator at Sierra Nevada Virtual Museum; consultant in Indian Education Programs; art instructor, Sierra College; advisory board, Maidu Interpretive Center
• Amado Pena, artist, recognized artisan of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe.
• Martin Roman "Marty" Perez Jr., infielder for the California Angels, Atlanta Braves, and three other MLB teams from 1969-1978; grandson of Guadalupe Quiroz Garcia, a Yaqui traditional healer born in Altar, Sonora, Mexico.
• Louis David Valenzuela, traditional Yaqui artist and woodcarver