Sicatuva History.
Sicatuva | Born Quickly
Sica-tuva (Born Quickly) was born on the reservation, in early summer, she eventually chose June 15, 1878, as her birth date. Around age 15, Sica-tuva attended the Indian school in nearby Rice, Arizona. By this time her father had died, and her mother had married a man named Pelhame. Sica-tuva enrolled in school as Viola Jimulla. She continued her education by attending Phoenix Indian School, learning the refinements of cooking, and sewing while improving her mastery of the English language and gaining an understanding of Christianity.
1872 | Yavapai Indian Mission is Established
In 1872, a Yavapai Indian mission was established in the Prescott area although rarely active until 1922 when a small building run by the Presbyterian Church served the Yavapai people. Every other Sunday, a minister from Clarkdale attended the congregation relying on Sam and Viola to act as interpreters. Viola became the first Yavapai baptized in the Yavapai Indian Presbyterian Church.
She was part of the community that helped revitalize the Yavapai Indian Mission and joined with the Presbyterian Church to form the Trinity Presbyterian Church for the Yavapai people. She represented the congregation at the Southwest Missionary Conference in Flagstaff in 1938 and again in 1940. She was a delegate to a meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico, that was comprised of 14 different tribes.
1876 | Strengthening Mission Work
Trinity Presbyterian Church is unique in that it began as a Yavapai Indian Mission whose members later invited Anglos of the community to worship with them. Actual mission work had begun in 1872. It was strengthened in 1876 when Sheldon Jackson came to Prescott and was instrumental in the start of Presbyterian work. But from 1884 until 1951 there was no organized Presbyterian work in Prescott, the first small group having affiliated with the Congregationalists. The Yavapai Indians, however, remained steadfast in the faith under the remarkable leadership of Viola Jimulla, Chiefess of the Tribe, Chaplain Forry, Don Mitchell and others.
Formal organization took place in 1951 with the election of Elders, Deacons, and the adoption of Bylaws. It was at this time that Viola Jimulla offered the name of Trinity to the new church, recognizing both the Holy Trinity and the relations of Indians, Anglos, and God.
1951 | Chiefess Viola Breaks Ground
In 1951, ground was broken by Chiefess Viola for the first building project at 630 Park Avenue. In 1964, the two-story classroom addition was added as the church continued to grow and take an active part in the community. And in 1989 construction began for a new sanctuary. On September 9, 1990, Don Mitchell, charter Yavapai member, and three generations of other Yavapai families led the way into the new sanctuary fulfilling a much-desired milestone.
With faithful commitment and financial support from its members, the Church was able to hold a mortgage burning ceremony on November 13, 1994, to receive clear title to the newest building effort. In 1997 construction to convert the lower level of the sanctuary into the Ballard Learning Center with classrooms and meeting rooms was completed.
1966 | Viola & Beyond
Viola died Dec. 7, 1966. Her daughter, Grace Jimulla Mitchell, succeeded her as Chieftess and later Lucy Jimulla Miller filled those dusty, history-laden shoes. Her granddaughter Patricia McGee followed as president of the Yavapai-Prescott tribe.
Former U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater once said of Viola. “To me Viola was never an old person; she was forever young ... endowed with a calmness of heart and kind to all. ... Viola was one of those rare people whose walk down the pathway of life raised a fine dust, which falling on those who travel the trail at the same time was beneficial to them. She was generous of heart and kind to all.”