ZUNI, NM (Feb. 29, 2024) — The Zuni Youth Enrichment Project announced today that more than 200 community members watched this year’s Delapna:we Project performances, which incorporated two stories about Suski (Coyote) in one play titled Suski an Delapna:we. The performances took place at 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 16 and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 18 at the Zuni Educational and Cultural Resources Center.
Made possible with support from New Mexico Behavioral Health, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and New Mexico Arts, the 6th annual Delapna:we Project was a community affair at every possible level. For starters, it is made possible by Ho’n A:wan Productions, a collaboration between the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project, A:shiwi A:wan Museum and Heritage Center, Edaakie Arts, ShiwiSun Productions, Zuni Public Library, KSHI Radio and other Zuni community members.
On Feb. 16, 73 community members gathered at the resources center for the evening performance, with more than 60 joining via Facebook Live. Zuni Public Library provided cotton candy and water for the gathering, while mentors from ZYEP’s Rooted In Healthy Traditions after-school program and members of the Zuni Middle School National Junior Honor Society were on hand to assist as needed.
Prior to the performance, families had opportunities to view a special Delapna:we exhibit from the A:shiwi A:wam Museum & Heritage Center. The exhibit shared the historical context for traditional Zuni storytelling, a timeline of the Delapna:we Project, and a display of artifacts and videos from the first Delapna:we performance during the 2018-19 winter storytelling season.
“Our executive director, Tahlia Natachu-Eriacho, welcomed everyone, and then Curtis Quam, the museum’s director, shared a little more information about the Delapna:we Project and how it came about,” said Kiara “Kiki” Zunie, ZYEP’s youth development coordinator. “I took a few minutes to talk to the audience about our participants’ progress and acknowledge our partners, and then Tahlia gave the cue to start the play.”
On Feb. 18, 93 community members gathered for the encore matinee performance. Thanks to the Facebook Live stream on both ZYEP’s page and the ShiwiSun Productions page, the performance received 4,000 views at press time, when the winter storytelling season officially ended.
Zuni Public Library provided cotton candy, popcorn and water, and ZYEP Arts Leader Liam Simplicio contributed chutsi’a:we (sweet tamales). The Rooted In Healthy Traditions mentors and NJHS students returned to help out, with additional support provided by Shiwi Ts’ana Elementary School staff members.
According to Kiki Zunie, both performances seemed to resonate with audiences, who provided overwhelmingly positive feedback.
“People told us they enjoyed seeing young people having fun learning their language, performing in front of the community, and keeping traditions alive,” she said. “One person told me their favorite thing about Delapna:we is coming back every year — they said they love how we bring Delapna:we to life.”
Since the program began in 2019, Delapna:we has taken the form of live theatrical performances, animations with voice-overs shared via Zoom, a film production, a puppet show, and more. Along the way, participants improve their language and performance skills, as well as their confidence.
“They also learn to step outside their comfort zone, even if they make mistakes,” Zunie added. “And, they learn to support one another.”
This year, the Delapna:we Project had 23 participants ranging in age from 8 to 56. Two are members of the Zuni Royalty Organization: Zuni Prince Jacob Gia, 8; and Zuni Princess Mya Edaakie, 9.
Gia said the Delapna:we Project has kept him busy since it began on Jan. 2. To prepare for the live performances, he and fellow participants engaged in a variety of activities designed to build confidence, teach voice projection, and develop acting skills.
“They teach us to take deep breaths,” he said. With a grin, he added, “And they always have good snacks!”
While Gia said it was fairly easy for him to learn his lines in Zuni, the kids helped each other if anyone was struggling. He has been involved in Delapna:we since 2021, and he said the project is always a great experience.
“It brings joy and excitement to the kids,” he explained. “You get to be happy, make characters come to life, and speak your language.”
Edaakie has been involved with Delapna:we since 2018, at the beginning of the project’s first season. She said she likes having opportunities to make new friends with different people.
Delapna:we, traditional stories, are priceless treasures for the Zuni people. After being shared and passed down for generations, they were in danger of being lost forever by the mid-20th century. Fortunately, the Doris Duke Foundation in New York provided necessary funding in the 1960s so the Zuni community could record 19 elders sharing more than 800 stories.
Quam digitized nearly 400 hours of those archived stories. He approached ZYEP in 2018 to see if there might be a way to bring the stories to life through the performing arts, which would bridge the learning gap between elders from more than half a century ago and today’s Zuni youth.
To learn more about the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project and its programs, and for information about making donations, partnering with ZYEP, and volunteering, call (505) 782-8000 or visit zyep.org. And, to stay up to date on the latest news and events, follow the nonprofit youth organization on Facebook (/zuniyouthenrichmentproject), Instagram (@zuniyouthenrichmentproject), YouTube (/ZuniYouth), and TikTok (/zyep09)
Founded in 2009, the nonprofit Zuni Youth Enrichment Project is dedicated to promoting resilience among Zuni youth so they will grow into strong, healthy adults who are connected with Zuni traditions. ZYEP fulfills its mission by providing positive role models, enriching programs, and nurturing spaces that contribute to the healthy development of Zuni youth. ZYEP strives to provide every child with the encouragement and opportunities they need to reach their full potential.
