Winter is storytelling season here in the Pueblo of Zuni, and that means it’s time for our annual Delapna:we Project. Each winter, Ho’n A:wan Productions — ZYEP, A:shiwi A:wan Museum and Heritage Center, Edaakie Arts, ShiwiSun Productions, Zuni Public Library, KSHI Radio and other Zuni community members — brings traditional Zuni stories to life through the performing arts.
For our 6th annual Delapna:we Project, participants will be telling two stories about Suski (Coyote) through a play titled Suski an Delapna:we. These participants range in age from 8 to 56, and many of them have been taking part in this popular cultural program since the very beginning. That includes our youngest participants, one of whom was just 3 years old when the program launched for the 2018-19 storytelling season.
We recently sat down with nine of our 2024 performers, all of whom have participated for six years: Mya Edaakie, 9; Payton Edaakie, 11; Sewa Laate, 18; Lyla Martinez, 12; Amarii Quam, 15; Khloe Quam,11; Deanna Sanchez, 10; Mariah Sanchez, 12; and Caylon Westika, 9. We wanted to learn more about what drew them to Delapna:we, what they like about the project, and what advice they might have for other young people.
When ZYEP Executive Director Tahlia Natachu-Eriacho asked the group why they wanted to join the Delapna:we Project, a flood of giggles greeted the question. Then came a cheerful chorus of “our parents made us” and “my mom wanted us out of the house!”
When that settled down, the children carefully considered the question.
“Delapna:we was an outlet for me, because we had lost my grandpa,” Sewa shared. “It helped me have fun and forget about what hurt.”
Amarii volunteered, “My dad told me about it, and I thought, hey, that’s kind of cool.”
“I joined because I thought it would be fun,” Caylon said. “And it is, for six years!”
Next, Tahlia asked the kids to think about their top Delapna:we highlights.
“Being connected,” Mariah said simply.
“Bringing the stories to life in different ways,” Sewa said, recalling that the first two Delapna:we projects were live stage productions, the third involved animations presented through Zoom, the fourth was a movie, and the fifth incorporated four different projects. This year marks the group’s first return to the stage since early 2020.
Mya said she likes having opportunities to make new friends with different people along the way. Deanna added that the project helps get her outside her comfort zone.
A wave of agreement followed this observation. The kids remembered their fears as project newcomers, which manifested in more than one way.
“Last year, when we were auditioning, I tried to say my lines and started to cry,” Lyla remembered.
“Deanna got sick before we went on,” Sewa added.
“It takes courage to go out there in front of so many people,” Tahlia told them. “It’s not easy to do something uncomfortable. You’re so brave. I look up to you guys.”
Shifting gears, she asked, “Why do you think other kids should join the Delapna:we Project?”
Another chorus erupted. In the children’s opinion, popular program benefits include good snacks, free activity books, opportunities to play games, the souvenirs at the end of the performances — and so much more.
“You’ll bring something to life,” Sewa said, with Amarii adding, “You’ll connect with your culture.”
As they reflected on their experiences, several kids observed they thought they would participate in Delapna:we just once. Instead, they’re growing up with the project, and they have advice for newcomers.
“Just have fun,” Khloe said. “Be glad that you’re breaking out of your bubble.”
“Enjoy it,” Lyla said simply.
“It’s scary at first, but if you keep at it, you’ll get it,” Mariah advised.
“You’ll have a lot of experiences that will make you smile, younger and older,” Sewa added.
Sewa also said she hoped newcomers to the program would have the opportunity to go on a family retreat like the trip to Angel Fire and Taos Pueblo in January 2023. On that trip, multiple generations from nine families enjoyed cultural education and experiences, shared traditional storytelling in the Zuni language, and supported each other through the fun as well as through an unexpected challenge.
When the ZYEP vans reached the snow-filled driveway to the retreat cabin on an evening with deteriorating weather conditions and below-freezing temperatures, they got stuck. Fortunately, the group worked together to solve the problem, and it ended up being a memorable adventure.
“We had to walk up the hill,” Payton recalled.
“It was fun walking up the hill,” Khloe pointed out.
“It was cold,” Mariah retorted.
“I fell down the hill,” Deanna recalled, to general laughter.
As the latest round of giggles subsided, the kids agreed that the Delapna:we Project is important for each individual participant. And, it’s important for the Zuni community.
“You’ll get to open up and be more open with your community,” Mariah said. “You’ll help them see how many stories were (almost) lost, but new kids can re-enact them.”
Community members will be able to see this year’s play, Suski an Delapna:we, at the Zuni Educational and Cultural Resources Center at 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 16 and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 18.
