Young artists learn more than new techniques at the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project. With each Emerging Artist Apprenticeship, they also take on the responsibility of carrying forward cultural knowledge — one thread at a time.
Kaleb Leekity, 25, is finishing a 10-week apprenticeship in Pueblo weaving this month. He says the journey has been both challenging and deeply rewarding.
Born and raised in Zuni, Kaleb grew up surrounded by creativity through his paternal grandmother, a jewelry artist known for crafting rings, bracelets, necklaces and belt buckles. Yet for many years, his own interests lay elsewhere.
Kaleb was focused on athletics in high school, playing four years of basketball, three years of softball and one year of football, while also serving as volleyball manager for three years. During his senior year, his focus turned toward a potential career path, and he enrolled in college-level health courses through the University of New Mexico in Gallup.
After graduating in 2019, he enrolled at the University of New Mexico’s main campus to study nursing. Just prior to spring 2020, he made the shift to emergency medical services.
“Then the pandemic hit,” Kaleb says. “I had to withdraw, and I came back home.”
He didn’t give up. He returned to school in 2021, enrolling at UNM Gallup to pursue the required coursework for becoming a dental assistant.
“I wanted to try something out of my comfort zone,” he says. “I got an apprenticeship at Zuni Dental (part of the Indian Health Service) and finished my degree in December 2021.”
Now, through ZYEP’s Emerging Artist Apprenticeship, Kaleb is exploring yet another path. Although he was nervous on the first day, he says he couldn’t wait to learn more about traditional Pueblo weaving and its significance in Zuni culture.
“I had some experience with weaving in high school and enjoyed it, but I never learned how to do designs on larger belts,” he explains. “I had a lot of self-doubt in the beginning, but now I feel confident.”
Under the guidance of ZYEP Arts Coordinator Elroy Natachu Jr. and co-instructor Chasady Simplicio, a graduate of the youth project’s Emerging and Advanced Artist Apprenticeships, Kaleb and his nine fellow apprentices are learning every step of the process, from preparing their looms to spinning yarn and battening.
The co-instructors also are teaching the students to tackle pattern belts using a more advanced method that emphasizes critical thinking and problem-solving. They are able to backtrack and fix mistakes as they go, a process that requires more effort at first but ultimately saves time and becomes second nature.
“The way they’re teaching us, I believe it’s the best,” Kaleb says. “I’d rather learn the hard way. It’s worth it.
“ZYEP provides all the supplies as well, and I’m so grateful for that,” he adds.
So far, Kaleb has completed a traditional red, green and black hair tie and a small ankle-tie belt. He’s currently working on a wider belt using a full-size loom that spans 6 feet.
“It’s like a door frame,” he says with a laugh. “It’s taller than me!”
Along the way, he also has gained a deeper appreciation for the cultural knowledge embedded in the work. He didn’t know, for example, that the battens had more than one purpose.
“They look like axes,” he shares. “In our history, when our homes were raided, they were used as weapons.”
He also says he was moved by the story of We’wha, a historical two-spirit figure who was among the first Zuni people to sell their pottery and textiles.
“I really connected to We’wha’s story,” he says. “It makes me feel like we’re all one big family, one community, carrying the torch.”
For Kaleb, that sense of connection has carried over into his daily life. When people in the community see him carrying his loom and supplies, they often stop to ask what he’s working on.
“I love to talk,” he says, smiling. “I tell them about the showcase.”
The Pueblo weaving apprenticeship concludes with a public showcase at Ho’n A:wan Park on March 27, and Kaleb hopes the larger belt will be complete in time. If not, he will display it as a work in progress.
Then, as one of the apprenticeship’s top four students, Kaleb will participate in the Grand Canyon Cultural Demonstration Program on March 31 through April 3. He says he’s excited for the opportunity and optimistic about where this path might lead.
“I have some thoughts about becoming an entrepreneur,” he shares. “I feel really positive about this pathway.”
When he’s not busy weaving, Kaleb stays active. He loves going to the gym and running, and he’s training for a marathon in Albuquerque later this year.
He also enjoys spending time with and caring for his grandmother, with whom he lives, as well as his two younger brothers. They are in fourth and fifth grades.
Reflecting on his experience, Kaleb says ZYEP plays a vital role in the Zuni community.
“It brings together community members and young people my age,” he explains. “We can socialize, get out of our shells and learn about our history. They provide everything we need. Just show up with a good attitude — that’s all they ask.”