Sometimes, the opportunities that take us in unexpected directions are the ones that prove most meaningful. For Tairia Sepo-Owaleon, a decision to try something completely new this summer opened the door to opportunities she couldn’t have imagined.
Tairia, 23, learned about the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project’s Emerging Artist Apprenticeship in Pueblo sewing through an Instagram post. She wasn’t sure if the program was right for her. At least, not at first.
“Growing up, I was always drawing and coloring, never sewing,” she says. “When I watched my grandmas do it, it seemed hard! I wasn’t sure if I’d like it, but I’m into fashion and enjoy wearing colors, so I thought I’d give it a try.”
That decision would take Tairia from sewing her first slightly crooked seams to showcasing her handmade clothing in Santa Fe during one of the largest gatherings of Indigenous artists in the world.
Born and raised in Zuni, Tairia first became acquainted with ZYEP when she was a child. In addition to participating in the youth project’s Basketball League for one season, she also attended Summer Camp; although she doesn’t remember exactly how old she was, the experience made a lasting impression.
“I remember going on hikes and being at the playground,” she says. “Our counselor was really fun. The campers called her ‘mom.’ She took such good care of us.”
After graduating from Zuni High School in 2021, Tairia enrolled at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. She spent a year there, but she says it felt rushed and overwhelming, so she ultimately chose to take a break and return home.
Tairia became reacquainted with ZYEP in 2024, when she served as a Summer Camp counselor. Then, this past spring, she spotted ZYEP’s Instagram post and applied for the 10-week sewing apprenticeship. She says it helped to discover that her fellow apprentices also were beginners.
Instructors Raelynn Seowtewa and Trinnie Laweka started with the fundamentals. Over time, the students learned how to take accurate measurements, create and cut patterns, construct garments and solve problems as they arose.
For Tairia, taking measurements and cutting out her own patterns were challenging at first, but she says the instructors were patient.
“You learn piece by piece,” she explains. “First I did the bread bag, and I can see now that the seams weren’t straight. Next was a men’s shirt, and the underdress was my breakthrough!”
The apprenticeship concluded on July 31 with a public showcase at Ho’n A:wan Park. Tairia, one of the program’s top four students, displayed two men’s shirts and an underdress.
“I was really nervous for the showcase,” she remembers. “I wondered who was going to come, if I would get criticism, and if I would stumble on my words.”
The young artists sat two to a table, and Tairia says they appreciated being able to support each other. While other apprentices sold their work to community members, she and the other three top students simply displayed theirs and enjoyed speaking with the public about the art form and their individual work.
They needed the garments for inventory, as they would be displaying their work in Santa Fe in just two short weeks. In the days to come, Tairia added two more underdresses, a summer dress, a skirt and additional regalia, including wrap pants, to her collection. She even used scraps to create a variety of scrunchies.
On Aug. 14, Tairia traveled to Santa Fe with fellow apprentices Gabrielle Baca, Kalil Edaakie and Synthea Natewa, chaperoned by ZYEP Executive Director Tahlia Natachu-Eriacho and Food Sovereignty Leader Khass Hattie. The four young artists showcased their work at Keshi the Zuni Connection during the Santa Fe Indian Market weekend.
“I’d heard a lot about the Indian Market, and how people from all over the world come to Santa Fe for it,” Tairia says. “Keshi was a good start for us. People were passing through, on their way to the main market, and they stopped to see us.”
The apprentices set up their table outside the Keshi gallery, where steady foot traffic allowed them to engage with visitors, answer questions and practice presenting themselves as professional artists. Those conversations were an important part of their apprenticeship training, and Tairia says she could see how much everyone had changed.
“Watching from the side while they spoke about their pieces, it showed me that we all grew together, getting a taste of the professional art world,” she says. “That encourages me to hone this skill and see where it can take me.”
One encounter was particularly meaningful. A woman from Taos Pueblo stopped to look at Tairia’s work and was drawn to a solid green underdress.
“She liked the work and asked a lot of questions,” Tairia remembers. “She said the garment fit her perfectly, which made me really happy. I love that I could create something that would make someone else feel confident and comfortable.”
The woman purchased the underdress, and her husband took Tairia’s contact information because he was interested in a matching shirt. For a young artist who started the summer as a beginner, it was an affirming moment, and for more than one reason.
“In the beginning, I was unsure about applying for the class, but the opportunity opened a new path for me,” Tairia says. “This class not only taught me a new hobby, it gave me a confidence boost. It was a blessing. This has been a hard year, and it helped me get through it.”