ZUNI, N.M. (March 26, 2026) — This spring, the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project is bringing back the in- and after-school programs it offers in partnership with the Zuni Public School District. From March to May, these programs will serve more than 500 elementary students and expand opportunities for middle and high school students.
Across classrooms and after-school sessions, youth will engage in integrated lessons that connect culture, wellness and creativity — from traditional dance and art to food sovereignty and life skills. New this year, ninth-graders will also have access to expanded middle-school programming focused on career exploration and real-world readiness.
Shiwi Ts’ana Elementary School Class
From March 2 to May 1, ZYEP is offering its Rooted in Healthy Traditions curriculum and dance class at Shiwi Ts’ana Elementary School, reaching approximately 510 students from pre-K through sixth grade. The class, which takes place during teacher Shanell Leekya’s physical education class, includes the youth project’s Rooted in Healthy Traditions curriculum and traditional dance instruction.
Led by ZYEP Food Sovereignty Leaders Khass Hattie and DeVon Bowekaty during the first half of each P.E. class, the RHT in-school curriculum focuses on agriculture and nutrition. Children are learning about soil health, water conservation and traditional farming practices while examining the relationships between people, plants and the natural world.
Hands-on activities include creating seed starts, taking home packets of cilantro or wildflower seeds and participating in nutrition lessons that encourage children to choose water over sugary drinks.
“During the first week, we provided infused water and did some taste-testing with a video demonstration,” Hattie said.
In the second half of the class, students transition into traditional dance instruction led by ZYEP Youth Development Leader Rani Yamutewa, accompanied by drummers and singers Mangaysha Kallestewa and Cyrus Lutse. They will practice a variety of social dances — including arrow, buffalo, butterfly, Comanche, corn, deer, horse, rainbow and Supai — as they prepare for the Indigenous Day celebration on April 17 at Zuni High School.
“We are all very anxious and excited to practice for Indigenous Day,” Yamutewa said. “As early as last fall, students were asking when we would start. Leading and practicing with them is one of my favorite programs because it brings excitement, healing and a great workout.”
ZYEP’s arts team is assisting with the children’s regalia for Indigenous Day.
“We’re making sure the dressing-guide handouts are correct, and we’re sourcing textiles that are attainable for families,” explained Elroy Natachu Jr., ZYEP’s arts coordinator. “We’ll also provide support during the performances, making sure the children are prepped and ready to go, with their regalia secure for dancing.”
During this spring’s class at STE, the children will also participate in a daily step challenge, using pedometers to track their activity during class. The class with the highest number of steps at the end of the program will receive a special prize.
Zuni Middle School Elective
At Zuni Middle School, the youth project is partnering with teacher Pamela Tsadiasi to offer a fourth-quarter elective class focused on Indigenous dance, art and meaningful connection. Scheduled for March 23 to May 28, the elective features an integrated curriculum that brings together ZYEP-led youth development, food sovereignty and art programming.
On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, the class is learning the meaning behind traditional dances, listening to songs and practicing the movements. The five-unit curriculum incorporates the buffalo, deer, turkey, corn, Mu:bachu, Supai and harvest dances, and as the group builds toward their public performances, instructors will demonstrate how to put on moccasins and tie the traditional scarf headbands and sash belts.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the students are working on art projects, including regalia for their own plush figures. In addition, they have three scheduled demonstrations this spring with the food sovereignty team: a water lesson with an olla jar on March 25, a white and blue corn parfait demo on April 15 and a blue corn demo on May 13.
Members of the ZMS elective class will showcase their dances at the Zuni Senior Center’s Elder Awareness Day on May 7.
Rooted in Healthy Traditions After-School Program at ZMS
Now in its fourth year, ZYEP’s Rooted in Healthy Traditions after-school program at ZMS will run from March to May, with expanded programming that includes ninth-graders. The program is divided into two sessions — March 31 to April 16 for seventh- and eighth-graders, and April 20 to May 14 for ninth-graders — each blending youth development, food sovereignty and art.
For seventh- and eighth-graders, the emphasis is on building connection through shared experiences rooted in A:shiwi core values.
“With this group, we’re really focusing on interaction and getting students engaged with each other through games, discussion and activities,” said Kiara “Kiki” Zunie, ZYEP’s youth development coordinator. “We want them practicing communication, respect and teamwork in ways that feel natural, not like a lecture.”
This approach carries across all program areas. In the food sovereignty sessions, young people will learn about ancestral connections to foods like chocolate, participate in hands-on seed activities and prepare simple, healthy recipes. In traditional art, they will gain new skills while building an appreciation for Zuni artistry.
“We have an exciting project planned where each participant creates their own beaded brooch,” said Kandis Quam, ZYEP arts leader. “It’s a chance to learn something new, but also to connect with the work of our artists in a meaningful way.”
For ninth-graders, the program shifts toward future planning, offering a more in-depth look at life after high school. It introduces career exploration, financial literacy and real-world experiences through site visits and community partnerships.
“I’m excited to finally step into a leadership role with this group,” said Kiara “Kiki” Zunie, ZYEP’s youth development coordinator. “Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to support this program behind the scenes, and now I get to bring together everything we’ve learned about what works, what the students respond to and what keeps them engaged. I’m really looking forward to working with both returning students and those joining for the first time.”
Throughout the session, participants will learn about college, vocational training and military service as post-secondary pathways. They will also gain practical skills in budgeting and personal finance, and visit local organizations such as the Zuni Education and Career Development Center and Shumak’olo:wa Health Center.
During Food Sovereignty Week, they will take part in a nutrition demonstration and site visits with partners such as Major Market Inc. and the Pueblo of Zuni’s Sustainable Agriculture Program.
“During this week, students will explore careers focused on traditional Zuni agriculture, hospitality and food systems entrepreneurship,” said Brittny Seowtewa, ZYEP’s food sovereignty coordinator. “The goal is for them to gain deeper perspectives on all aspects of sovereignty.”
Traditional art sessions will allow participants to move between hands-on learning and real-world exposure as well. In addition to creating their own pieces, including traditional choker-style necklaces made with graduated stone beads and shell, participants will visit the A:shiwi College and Career Readiness Center and the Ancestral Rich Treasures of Zuni (ARTZ) Cooperative to learn more about their art spaces, equipment and services.
“Our ninth-grade participants can expect to see all the possibilities for artists after high school and college,” Quam said. “They’ll learn an art form they can use to help themselves get started as artists, gain a new appreciation for established artisans and strengthen their connection with Zuni culture.”
ZYEP’s in- and after-school programs are made possible with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), McCune Charitable Foundation, New Mexico Behavioral Health Services Division, New Mexico Department of Health, NoVo Foundation, Seventh Generation Fund and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
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.
