Cajeme is the greatest leader in the history of the Yaqui struggle for land and liberty. He was born to two Yaqui parents in 1837 in Hermosillo under the name Jose Maria Leyva. He lived the first few years of his life in the Yaqui pueblo of Raum. Leyva joined the Mexican military at a young age, and took up arms at every chance he got. He even fought against his own indigenous people many times, and witnessed one of the most brutal massacres against the Yaqui people, at the Yaqui pueblo of Bacum.

Because of his excellent service in the military, the government gave him the title of alcalde mayor of the Yaqui River territory. Soon after, his indigenous roots were re-awakened and he realized that these, and not the Spanish-controlled Mexican government, were the people who he should be fighting with. He adopted the name Cajeme, Yoeme for "he who does not drink."

Cajeme declared the Yaqui River territory a separate republic in 1875 and the government began yet another war against the Yaqui Nation. Cajeme was the first Yaqui leader to utilize the "guerrilla" tactics that had been missing from previous campaigns. He began to tax importers both cash and firearms for entering Yaqui territory. He taught them new ways to wage war against the oppressive Mexican government. Under his supervision the Yaqui were able to defeat the Mexican troops on several occasions, using surprise attacks and modern tactics of war.

Cajeme was captured in 1887 and murdered by a firing squad. Though he died, his legacy lived on in the heart of every Yaqui warrior. His ultimate goal was for the government to give control of the Yaqui territory back to its rightful owners and recognize the Yaqui Nation as a sovereign state. If it were not for the great Yaqui warrior Cajeme, the Yaqui struggle would never have reached such dynamic proportions and may not have recaptured and exceeded the glory of their first major rebellion under Juan Ignacio Jusacamea.