Robert Miguel

Robert Miguel was raised on the Ak-Chin Indian Community reservation in Maricopa, Arizona. His mother, Janice Miguel, had Robert when she was a teenager. His father is of Mexican descent. Miguel's mother had three additional children, three brothers, two of died in adulthood. His grandparents, Matilda and Jonas Miguel, were his primary caregivers. Jonas Miguel served as Chair of the Ak-Chin Indian Community when Miguel was a boy. He did not know his father, Robert Villarreal, until Miguel was seventeen. After meeting Villarreal, Miguel learned he had three half-siblings, two sisters and a brother.^[2]

As a child, Miguel lived in an adobe house. He was also raised speaking the Oʼodham language with English being his second language.^[2]

Miguel played baseball as a teen, an activity he credits with helping him avoid drug and alcohol use. He played with his brother Norbert. Their team traveled across the region to play against other Indian tribes. He played the sport well and tried out for the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds.^[2]