Yaqui New Testament (YAQWBT)

Overview

The Yaqui New Testament, titled Yoʼowe Jesukrijtota itom yaʼariakaʼu betchiʼbo juʼu bemelaka liojta betana lutuʼuria yaʼari, is a translation of the New Testament into the Yaqui (Hiaki) language of northwestern Mexico, published in 2003 by Wycliffe Bible Translators. [1] The Yaqui are one of the most culturally distinctive indigenous peoples of the Sonoran region, known for their centuries-long resistance to colonial and national assimilation and for their distinctive blending of traditional and Catholic religious practice. [2] An audio recording of the translation was produced in 2009. [3]

Language and People

Yaqui (ISO 639-3: yaq), also known as Hiaki or Yoem Noki, is spoken by approximately 20,940 people in the Mexican state of Sonora and in communities in Arizona, United States. [Glottolog: yaqu1251]

The Yaqui call themselves Yoeme (meaning "person"; plural Yoemem, "people") and are an Uto-Aztecan-speaking indigenous nation whose traditional homeland lies along the Rio Yaqui in Sonora, Mexico. [2] Today there are eight traditional Yaqui pueblos in Sonora, with additional communities in Sinaloa and southern Arizona. [2] The Yaqui are notable for having maintained their political and cultural autonomy through prolonged resistance, first against Spanish colonial forces and later against the Mexican government. [4] Their religious life is characterized by a distinctive synthesis of pre-contact beliefs and Catholic practice, including the widely recognized Deer Dance ceremony. [2]

Publishing and Organizations

Created by Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc. Translation type: New.

References