ABSTRACT
This chapter describes how the elders are integral in preserving the ceremonies and the three societies that make up Yaqui culture. The first society is the Ceremonial Society, which is in charge of the Easter ceremonies. The second society is the Church Society and the components include the maestro, who is the spiritual leader and a lay priest. The third society is the Fiesta Dancers Society, and it includes two types of fiesta dancers who dance at the Lenten activities, as well as other spiritual events. The vast majority of the Yaqui elders at Old Pascua identifies as either Hispanic or Yaqui and speaks Spanish only; a smaller number speak Cahiti. The Yaqui elderly find themselves in a state of social services limbo, where they are often denied services and forced to go without them. Health and social services practice with elderly Yaqui clients requires practitioners to plan a period for development of a trusting relationship.
