Tupac Enrique Acosta, Huehuecoyotl, 

Yaotachcauh, Calpolli Nahuacalco Izkaloteka

Tupac Enrique Acosta, also known as Tupac Huehuecoyotl, was born on February 7th, 1952, in San Antonio, Texas. He made his journey to Mictlan, the realm of our ancestors, spending his final moments in his chante on November 9th, 2023, at the age of 71. Spending his early years in San Antonio with his family, including his mother, Herminia Tecihtzin Acosta, a writer and storyteller, his father, Julio Martínez Enrique, a civil service worker, his eight sisters, and two brothers, Tupac grew up immersed in strong cultural traditions and family values.  Raised amidst pecan trees and along the river, his family instilled a profound connection to his culture through folklore. They would create teatros where each child played a role and would perform on their porch for the community.  He was a daring and mischievous boy, who was deeply cherished by his siblings. 

Moving from San Antonio to San Diego in his senior year of high school, Tupac continued with music and guitar playing, contributing to the Chicano movement. Raising his first four children in San Diego, Tupac continued his family traditions, passing them on to his children. Later, he met his wife Maria and they joyfully married at Chicano Park on April 22nd, 1980. Following their union, Tupac and Maria made their home in Izkalotlan (Phoenix, Arizona), where the family rooted itself and organized a kinship system of extended families known as the Calpolli Nahuacalco of Izkalotlan. Together, they raised four more children, creating a vibrant and interconnected family legacy.  Dedicating their lives together as caretakers of Xiuhtlaltzin, they fostered a relationship with extended communities and medicine people to share a sacred place of healing. 

In Phoenix, Tupac played a crucial role as a founding member of Tonatierra, a community-based organization advocating for  Indigenous Peoples Rights. His life's mission was dedicated to fostering the Nahuacalli as a Cultural Embassy of Indigenous Peoples, aligning with principles of Community Ecology and Self-Determination. Tupac actively participated in Indigenous Peoples encounters worldwide, defending Indigenous territories and advocating for the rights of Self-Determination and Mother Earth.  

Those who knew Tupac understood these critical moments in his life’s work:  including as representative of the Tlahtokan Izkalotl in 1987 at the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva, as a firekeeper in the 1990 First Continental Encounter of Indigenous Pueblos and Nations, and again tending the fire at the 1993 Council of Indigenous Organizations and Nations of the Continent (CONIC), and subsequent Continental Indigenous Summits. His recent work with Continental Encuentros in Ecuador, Guatemala, Peru, and Colombia, and in planning for future uprisings of Indigenous Self-Determination, including in 2024 in Walmapuche. Tupac was a Judge of the First Nations International Court of Justice, and represented Calpolli Nahuacalco at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues since its inception. Tupac recognized the role of bilingual Xicanos in the self-determination of Indigenous Peoples in Abya Yala with him being a translating voice and an organizer of the continent.  His work was instrumental in ensuring that relatives from the South had the opportunity to bring forward their issues while supporting them with the tools and resources they needed to fully and effectively participate in matters concerning them.

Tupac, with a strong cup of coffee always in hand and a secret stash of chiles in his pocket, was known for his writings, his poetry and songs. His principled character, resilience, wisdom, and unyielding dedication to the people and the land was what guided his path.  He was a man of many hats, he was a teacher, an adviser, and a respected researcher in Indigenous International Law. His tireless efforts included on-the-ground support, creating ceremonial spaces, and representing Indigenous Peoples in various forums. In addition to his global advocacy, he actively led Tonatierra in developing the Xinachtli curriculum, a community-based initiative for Indigenous Self-Determination in education. He was also famous for his big pots of delicious posole and his tortilla and fry bread jokes. 

For the past 40 years, Tupac demonstrated unwavering spiritual commitment and resilience through his role as Yaotachcauh of the Danza Azteca Huehuecoyotzin. Additionally, he devoted many years of his life to the Sundance ceremony. Tupac and his wife Maria were acknowledged as herederos of the Palabra de la Danza Azteca, a lineage of Mexica tradition that carries millennia of generations of history into the future. Together, they dedicated their lives in preserving and transmitting these cultural practices.

Tupac is survived by his wife Maria, eight children: Axan, Tupac, Toqua, Xilonen, Po-pé, Joaquin, Xochitl, Quetzalli, 22 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. A loving Husband, Father, Papá, Tata, Tío and a great leader to many, his legacy will live on through his significant contributions to Indigenous Peoples Rights, his fight in defense of Mother Earth, and his tireless work in cultural preservation and regeneration. Tiahui!