ZUNI, NM (Sept. 30, 2026) —Thirty-five Shiwi Ts’ana Elementary School students are spending three afternoons each week cooking, creating art, practicing language and learning about their community through the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project’s Rooted in Healthy Traditions after-school program. Now in its fifth and final year at Shiwi Ts’ana, the program runs Sept. 8 through Oct. 29 for students in third through sixth grades.
Made possible with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, RHT brings together physical activity, food sovereignty, art, homework help and knowledge sharing, with an emphasis on relationships among youth, young-adult mentors, ZYEP staff and community knowledge keepers. Demand has been particularly strong among fifth- and sixth-graders this fall.
Twenty-one children in the upper two grades registered, prompting ZYEP to divide them into two groups. Boys also account for 24 of the 35 students, or nearly 69% of the program’s participants this year.
“We created the RHT after-school program based on the needs of our community,” said Tara Wolfe, ZYEP’s program manager. “Its purpose is to promote cultural and holistic wellness by connecting Zuni youth with positive mentors in a safe, loving environment. For the past four years, we have been dedicated to providing a meaningful curriculum that focuses on knowledge, skill development and those intergenerational connections.”
Wolfe said survey results from the last school year showed that 61% of participating youth reported having opportunities through RHT to learn about Zuni culture.
“That number is significant and makes me proud of the impact that the program is having on the next generation of leaders,” she said.
RHT takes place from 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays. The Zuni Public School District provides snacks and bus transportation, while ZYEP staff members lead each program area. Physical Activity Coordinator Tyler Sice and Physical Activity Leader Zachary James lead the physical activity component, using creative methods to engage the youth in activities that strengthen their well-being.
Led by Food Sovereignty Leaders Khassia Hattie and DeVon Bowekaty with assistance from Food Sovereignty Coordinator Brittny Seowtewa, the RHT food sovereignty lessons are centered on garden visits and recipes using locally grown ingredients. Youth are harvesting produce at Ho’n A:wan Park, incorporating Shiwi’ma (Zuni language) words related to agriculture, and preparing snacks such as cucumber salad, blue corn pancakes and cheesy zucchini bites.
In art, led by Arts Leader Kandis Quam, students are developing hand-eye coordination while exploring Zuni culture, history and design. Their projects to date have included clan-inspired sun catchers, paper self-portraits, ojos and paper pottery, along with drawing and painting traditional designs.
Youth Development Leader Rani Yamutewa leads homework help as well as knowledge sharing, which is extending beyond the school grounds this year. Outings include a visit to the Zuni Public Library to receive library cards and a trip to sacred Dowa Yalanne (Ancient Mountain) with cultural educator and ZYEP Built Environment Leader Enric Tsalate, who will teach them the history of the Great Flood.
In addition, the ZYEP staff has invited museum technician and cultural educator Curtis Quam from the A:shiwi A:wan Museum and Heritage Center to visit the RHT program this fall. Quam’s visit will focus on Zuni migration history.
“I’m excited for the students to connect to an old-school style of learning — to have the opportunity to learn from Curtis and Enric,” Yamutewa said. “I know a lot of our youth are always excited to learn about the history of Zuni and where we come from.”
Back at Shiwi Ts’ana, students continue to practice Shiwi’ma and cursive handwriting through daily affirmation and Zuni core value sheets. They also are working with “Ami Wi’le Hish O’she:a,” a Zuni version of “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” and will create their own storybooks and miniature caterpillars.
Four young-adult mentors are working closely with the ZYEP staff to make these activities possible: Ethan Lamy and Chloe Kallestewa with the third- and fourth-graders, and Jada Kallestewa and Raine Edaakie with the fifth- and sixth-graders. All four previously served as ZYEP Summer Camp counselors, which has allowed them to carry the leadership skills and relationships they developed over the summer directly into the school year.
“I’m looking forward to the connections I can make with the kids, and hopefully encourage them to try new things and make new friends,” Lamy said. “I’m also looking forward to seeing the faces from RHT in next year’s Summer Camp!”
Edaakie said she is looking forward to watching the children learn and have fun while developing healthy habits and staying connected to culture.
“I also look forward to incorporating traditional practices that help them feel more connected to their identity, culture, wellness and environment,” she said. “Most of all, I’m grateful to be part of an experience that supports their growth and well-being.”
RHT will conclude Oct. 29 with a Pumpkin Party at Shiwi Ts’ana. Students will rotate through activity stations led by their RHT mentors, enjoy healthy snacks and participate in surprise activities celebrating their accomplishments this fall.
“Participants have been especially excited to know how we will celebrate the completion of RHT,” Wolfe said. “Our goal is to bring together students, mentors and staff for a fun day in an accessible location, one that the children will remember.
“We are deeply grateful to Shiwi Ts’ana Elementary School Principal Janis Bowekaty, the school’s administrative team and staff, the ZPSD food services and transportation departments, the Zuni Board of Education, the Zuni Public Library and the A:shiwi A:wan Museum and Heritage Center for helping us bring this year’s program to life,” she continued. “We couldn’t have done it without their support.”
ZYEP’s school-based programming will continue this fall at Zuni Middle School. From Oct. 6 through Dec. 17, Arts Leader Kandis Quam and ZMS teacher Erica Nahohai will lead an in-school elective class from 2:06 to 2:56 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The elective will move through three units: sewing a tissue-box cover; beading fringe earrings and a lanyard; and creating two-dimensional art, including drawing and an introduction to color. Students also will learn about the history, meaning and cultural significance of traditional clothing and dance, with lessons incorporating Zuni values, ancestry, traditional knowledge and seasonal teachings.
Every other Wednesday, Yamutewa will lead a mental wellness awareness session that explores the connections among creativity, culture and mental well-being. The six sessions will take place on Oct. 7 and 21, Nov. 4 and 18, and Dec. 2 and 16.
“Integrating mental wellness awareness into the ZMS elective is essential for helping youth understand how art, creativity, culture and mental wellness are interconnected,” Wolfe said.
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.
