| Mrs. Antonia Leon lives in Old Pascua Yaqui Village, located near the corner of Grant Road and Fairview Avenue. She is the mother of Yaqui muralist Danny Leon, and is considered by members of her community to be one of the local experts in the art of making paper flowers. She learned the skill from her mother at the age of twelve, and has in turn passed it on to others within her Yaqui community.
Ignacia Yucupicio was born and grew up in Tucson, having attended Richey Elementary School. She learned to make tissue paper flowers from her mother and her aunt who would make flowers and wreaths for the Day of the Dead. Her aunt was the mother of Antonia Leon, who is also a participant in our festival. Today Ignacia is invited back to Richey Elementary for Cinco de Mayo and Christmas holidays, to teach paper flower making to the children. She has also been invited to the University of Arizona to display her craft. She is proud of this, and of her five sons and four daughters. |
