ZUNI, NM (May 27, 2025) — This spring, the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project reached 450 students in the Pueblo of Zuni through immersive in-school programs that celebrated traditional dance, cultural learning and food sovereignty. A ZYEP-led dance class at Shiwi Ts’ana Elementary School ran from Mar. 3 to May 2, while the Zuni Middle School elective class started on Mar. 24 and will conclude May 29.
Dance Class at Shiwi Ts’ana Elementary School
Made possible with assistance from the New Mexico Department of Health, the elementary school dance class is offered once per school year. This spring, it was available to 430 students in pre-K to 5th grade through teacher Shanell Leekya’s physical education class.
For two months, elementary students learned the social dances that they would perform for the community at Shiwi Ts’ana Indigenous Day on Friday, April 25. ZYEP Youth Development Leader Rani Yamutewa led the dance portion of the class with singers Cyrus Lutse and Mangaysha Kallestewa.
“When I was younger, Mr. Kallestewa created a dance group with all my cousins, and we would go out to dance at different events,” Leekya recalled. “Dancing was something that was new to me, but I enjoyed it a lot, and it was one of my favorite memories as a kid. (In PE) my highlight was seeing all the students engaged in dancing. For some, they took a step out of their comfort zone to try something new.
“It was awesome to see students not just dancing with their own class, but with other classes as well,” she continued. “For them to have that excitement for participating in their culture gives us joy, knowing they can keep this going for generations to come.”
As the students built their confidence and improved their moves, the instructors encouraged them to reflect on the importance of traditional dance and the emphasis on prayers and blessings within the songs. For example, when the students were learning the butterfly dance, Lutse emphasized the importance of having a good heart and good thoughts so they would bless their families with positive energy.
Not only was ZYEP involved in teaching the dances at STE, the staff helped create, repair and organize Indigenous Day regalia and headdresses as well. They also assisted in organizing and running a “specials reunion,” in which all grade levels practiced their dances in front of each other in the gym.
“This gave the students the confidence to perform in front of bigger crowds, and it allowed them to support each other as they performed,” Yamutewa said. “Often, we saw students give each other thumbs-up, and hearts shaped from their hands; we also witnessed the different classes clapping for each other.”
Throughout the process, older grades were paired with younger ones to encourage mentorship and guidance.
ZYEP assisted the school with a full dress rehearsal prior to the Apr. 25 performances. To help students manage nerves before the big day, the team led a creative reflection exercise in which the students wrote their fears on paper, “fed” them to a handmade worry monster and released those feelings before stepping into their roles as dancers and culture bearers.
And so they did. On Indigenous Day, the elementary students showcased the basket dance, horse dance, Comanche dance, corn dance, turkey dance, rainbow dance and deer dance. A student-led drum group accompanied the dancers, and they sang the harvest dance song for staff and students to perform together at the end of the celebration.
“Everything was my favorite part of Indigenous Day,” shared a kindergarten student named Riley. “I danced Eagle for the first time, and I had fun, even when it was scary.”
“The students made us very proud,” Yamutewa said. “I had happy tears as soon as the second dance started. They had practiced so hard and did a beautiful job.
“Practicing the dances for Indigenous Day is my favorite thing to do as part of the ZYEP team,” she continued. “It’s an opportunity for me to exercise all day, connect with the kiddos — it’s really healing.”
Third-grader Naomi agreed, noting, “Dance practice was fun! I got a lot of exercise in my legs.”
Throughout the two-month duration of the class, the STE students also engaged with a ZYEP-led, Native food sovereignty-focused curriculum called “Rooted in Healthy Traditions.” ZYEP Food Sovereignty Leader Khass Hattie guided the children through Zuni agricultural practices like seed planting and water conservation. They also engaged in physical activities, created art, learned both English and Zuni terminology, and planted and decorated ZYEP’s mobile garden.
“Before the students planted the mobile garden, they were led in a mindful grounding exercise by Ms. Rani to focus and practice good energy for planting,” Hattie said. “Following the meditation, students could choose to plant cilantro or coriander seeds or wildflower seeds. Upper grade levels also decorated garden stones, while grades K-2 decorated cardboard tiles that were hung on the outside of the mobile garden.”
Traditional Dance Elective at Zuni Middle School
During the fourth quarter at Zuni Middle School, ZYEP partnered with teacher Erica Nahohai to offer an elective class for 20 students that focused on building social and cultural connectedness. The class was made possible with support from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAHMSA), the New Mexico Department of Health, the New Mexico Behavioral Health Services Division and the ZMS team.
This school year, ZMS and ZYEP offered the elective class twice. In the first quarter, it focused on traditional art, and for the fourth quarter, it focused on traditional dance. ZYEP Youth Advisory Council Member Ryann Cornelius, Youth Development Coordinator Kiara “Kiki” Zuni and Program Manager Tara Wolfe provided critical support for the class, with Arts Coordinator Elroy Natachu Jr. providing additional support during the dance showcase at ZMS on Friday, May 9.
Singers and instructors Mangaysha Kallestewa and Cyrus Lutse led the dance portion of the class. The students learned the traditional songs and their meanings as well as the dance movements, and they chose the deer dance for their special showcase performance, held in conjunction with the middle school’s Indigenous Week activities.
The showcase concluded the dance portion of the elective. During the remaining weeks, Zunie and Cornelius have been leading activities centered on team bonding and communication.
For example, students made thank-you cards for Kallestewa, Lutse and the ZYEP team. They enjoyed a STEM boat challenge, creating boats out of household supplies that would withstand the weight of 200 pennies; they played games such as blindfold tag and “Debate”; Shumak’olo:wa Health Center delivered a presentation on mental health; and Enric Tsalate, cultural advisor and ZYEP built environment leader, gave a presentation about traditional regalia.
The class also incorporated traditional art and food sovereignty components. In art, led by ZYEP Art Leader Liam Simplicio, the students explored the cultural connections of historic and contemporary pueblo jewelry and created their own pueblo-style earrings, necklaces and bracelets.
Then, with ZYEP Food Sovereignty Leader Zachary James and and the food sovereignty team, students learned about seeds, pollination, water conservation, the importance of Earth Day, food preservation, food systems, food sustainability and hunting.
They designed pots, planted their own cilantro seed starts, and learned with Explora how seeds travel through wind, water and pollinators. They made cornhusk dragonflies, built bird feeders with recycled materials and created their own rain harvest system using cardboard houses, boba straws, tape and glue.
What’s more, students learned how to pickle cucumbers, adding jalapeños and other vegetables. They also had an opportunity to visit the Zuni Public School District’s greenhouse to learn about the aquaponics system and other approaches to managing the food system.
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.
