Tupac Enrique Acosta

Tupac Enrique Acosta (February 7, 1952 – November 9, 2023) was an Indigenous activist.

Early life Born in San Antonio, Texas, Tupac Enrique Acosta identified as Izkaloteka, descendants of the Mexica Indigenous people of modern-day Mexico and the Southwestern U.S. Tupac Enrique Acosta, originally referred to as Enrique Acosta, switched names in representation of Incan leader, Túpac Amaru. Acosta was also known as Tupac Huehuecoyotl after Huehuecoyotl, a Nahuatl word meaning ancient coyote. Acosta was involved in this organization, however was not one of the board members or directors. By 1993, MCOP no longer existed and developed into Tonatierra Community Development Institute, with more focus on advocacy for Indigenous people.

Acosta was heavily involved in global efforts to discuss indigenous rights and the pervasive effects of colonialism on communities. He spent decades travelling to various Continental Indigenous Summits and was well known among Indigenous activists for his work in the US and beyond. In 1990 he went to Quito, Ecuador to participate in the First Continental Encounter of Indigenous Nations, Pueblos and Organizations. This run was in opposition of Senate Bill 1069, that wished to ban Raza and ethnic studies for grade school students in Arizona. In 2010 Acosta participated in protests in Arizona against the anti-immigration Senate Bill 1070.

He was a supporter of free, prior, and informed consent for communities. Free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) is a principle that is still being solidified in law internationally. The UN Workshop on Indigenous Peoples, Private Sector Natural Resource, Energy and Mining Companies and Human Rights held in 2001 recognized the lack of universal agreement about FPIC and the need to establish human rights standards. Acosta submitted a statement on behalf of Tonatierra discussing this in February 2023, while the UNOHCHR was discussing the impact of new climate protection technologies. Acosta also spent time as a guest on many podcasts and travelled internationally to promote discourse on the Doctrine of Discovery and promote Indigenous culture and advocacy. A memorial was held by Acosta's family at the Salt River Memorial Hall with hundreds of people attending. Special permission had to be granted by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Tribe for the ceremony to be held there as typically the hall is only accessible to tribe members.