Jose Maria Leyva (Cajeme)*

Cajeme is the greatest leader in the history of the Yaqui struggle for land
and liberty. He was born to two Yaqui parents in 1837 in Hermosillo under the
name Jose Maria Leyva. He lived the first few years of his life in the Yaqui
pueblo of Raum. Leyva joined the Mexican military at a young age, and took up
arms at every chance he got. He even fought against his own indigenous people
many times, and witnessed one of the most brutal massacres against the Yaqui
people, at the Yaqui pueblo of Bacum.

Because of his excellent service in the military, the government gave him the
title of alcalde mayor of the Yaqui River territory. Soon after, his
indigenous roots were re-awakened and he realized that these, and not the
Spanish-controlled Mexican government, were the people who he should be fighting
with. He
adopted the name Cajeme, Yoeme for "he who does not drink."

Cajeme declared the Yaqui River territory a separate republic in 1875 and the
government began yet another war against the Yaqui Nation. Cajeme was the
first Yaqui leader to utilize the "guerrilla" tactics that had been missing from
previous campaigns. He began to tax importers both cash and firearms for
entering Yaqui territory. He taught them new ways to wage war against the
oppressive Mexican government. Under his supervision the Yaqui were able to defeat the
Mexican troops on several occasions, using surprise attacks and modern tactics
of war.

Cajeme was captured in 1887 and murdered by a firing squad. Though he died,
his legacy lived on in the heart of every Yaqui warrior. His ultimate goal was
for the government to give control of the Yaqui territory back to its rightful
owners and recognize the Yaqui Nation as a sovereign state. If it were not
for the great Yaqui warrior Cajeme, the Yaqui struggle would never have reached
such dynamic proportions and may not have recaptured and exceeded the glory of
their first major rebellion under Juan Ignacio Jusacamea.