EDUCATION

Teacher Language Institute

Education

TLI Program information

The Teacher Language Institute is building the next generation of Hiaki educators who teach from the heart and are grounded in Hiaki ways of knowing, language, and identity.

TLI GOALS

  1. Increase the number of certified Yaqui Language Instructors
  2. Prepare teachers to be proficient in Hiak noki & teach curricula
  3. Develop dialogues for home access to Hiak language for families
  4. Design curriculum crosswalk
  5. Develop a companion K-1 curriculum for the Yaqui Independent School District

As Hiaki educators, we want to foster an environment and create a curriculum that doesn’t just teach culture to our children, but most importantly, TEACHES CULTURALLY.

Hiaki teachers are more than educators — they are keepers of culture, language, and identity.

 They guide future generations with wisdom rooted in community and strength grounded in tradition. Through their teaching, they inspire pride, purpose, and possibility in every student they reach.

Hiaki Ye Mahtame will embody the following core values:

  1. Cultural integrity
  2. Community Connection
  3. Holistic Teaching
  4. Academic Rigor
  5. Leadership and Advocacy



  • Graciela Garcia

    I am a Master Language Instructor who is passionate about education, language, and helping students achieve their goals. 

    I was born in Tucson, Arizona. I grew up in a small farming community in Marana, Arizona. I am a fluent speaker of the Yaqui language and that is also my first language. My childhood experiences are what inspired me to become an educator. Yaqui being my first language I struggled in a public school in learning English. My studies helped me build the skills and knowledge that later shaped my professional career. 

    As a Master Language Instructor, I have dedicated my career to helping students improve their language proficiency and confidence. I have developed effective teaching strategies to meet diverse learning needs. 

    Looking ahead, I hope to continue growing as an educator, mentor future instructors, and contribute to innovative language-learning programs that empower students worldwide. My journey has been shaped by a love of learning and a commitment to helping others succeed. I am grateful for the experience that has brought me to where I am today and look forward to the opportunities ahead.




  • Celia     Gonzales

    is a member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and an educator with more than 15 years of experience working in adult education, elementary, and early childhood settings. She is a graduate of the University of Arizona and an alumna of the Indigenous Teacher Education Program (ITEP), where her preparation as an educator emphasized culturally sustaining and community-centered approaches to teaching and learning.

    Celia is currently a participant in the Teacher Language Institute (TLI), where she continues to strengthen her proficiency in Hiak Nooki while preparing to become a certified Hiak Nooki instructor. Her work focuses on connecting language, culture, education, and community to strengthen opportunities for Hiak Nooki teaching and learning.

    She is especially passionate about the preparation and development of future Hiaki teachers who are equipped to teach Hiak Nooki, culture, and Hiaki ways of knowing. She believes that preparing teachers from within the community is essential to creating strong, culturally grounded learning environments in both current and future Hiaki schools. Her interests include developing culturally grounded curriculum, strengthening pathways for future language teachers, and creating opportunities for students and families to use Hiak Nooki beyond the classroom.

    Through her experience as an educator, teacher mentor, and language learner, Celia is committed to strengthening Indigenous education and helping build a sustainable future where Hiaki teachers, language, culture, and community remain at the heart of education for future generations.

     



  • MariaLouisa Vega

    Dedicated to advancing Indigenous language revitalization through education and community collaboration, MariaLouisa Vega is a Hiaki (Pascua Yaqui) educator and teacher with the Teacher Language Institute (TLI), where she is learning Hiak Nooki while helping develop culturally grounded curriculum that supports meaningful language learning within her community.
    MariaLouisa’s passion for Indigenous language education began through the Indigenous Teacher Education Project (ITEP) and deepened during her participation in the American Indian Language Development Institute (AILDI) in 2017 at the University of Arizona. Those experiences inspired not only her own language learning journey but also her commitment to creating opportunities for future generations to reconnect with their language and culture. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education with an emphasis in English as a Second Language in 2019 and recently began pursuing a Master of Arts in Native American Languages and Linguistics at the University of Arizona.
    Previously, MariaLouisa served as a teacher at Ili Uusim Mahtawa’apo Pascua Yaqui Head Start, where she fostered culturally responsive learning for young children and families. She later joined TLI, where she continues her work in Indigenous language revitalization through teacher preparation, curriculum development, and her own journey as a Hiaki language learner. In 2026, she was selected to participate in NNARLC Next Gen Cohort 2, a program supporting the development of the next generation of Indigenous language leaders.
    MariaLouisa collaborates in the development of Hiaki-based curriculum that reflects Hiaki ways of knowing and promotes language learning through culturally relevant, community-driven approaches. As both an educator and a language learner, she understands the challenges and rewards of language reclamation and believes that strong language programs are built through relationships, mentorship, and community leadership.
    MariaLouisa hopes to continue growing as an educator, language advocate, and emerging leader dedicated to strengthening the connection between language, culture, and future generations. Outside of her work, she enjoys spending time with family, cooking, dancing to cumbias, and finding beauty in everyday life.