ZUNI, NM (June 8, 2023) — Community partnerships have been vital to the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project since its founding in 2009. One of the most important has been the nonprofit organization’s relationship with the Zuni Public School District.
Together, with support from the New Mexico Department of Health, they have been able to offer annual in-school programming at both Shiwi Ts’ana Elementary School and Zuni Middle School. During the 2022-23 school year, ZYEP served 560 students from pre-K through eighth grade.
“(We) have built a strong foundational relationship to fulfill a cultural-to-academic connective need for our students,” said Dr. Dominique Dosedo, Zuni Middle School’s principal and Zuni Public School District’s equity council facilitator. “ZYEP offers programing to link traditional values with modern interests.
“At Zuni Middle School, we strive to provide positive experiences that will allow our students to learn and grow to their fullest potential,” she continued. “It takes a village to raise a child, and we appreciate the phenomenal partnership we have built with ZYEP.”
The ZYEP classes took place during the regular school day. At Shiwi Ts’ana Elementary School, they incorporated physical activity, food sovereignty, and state curriculums like “Eat Smart To Play Hard,”as well as traditional storytelling, traditional dance and music.
“In these classes, we emphasize the importance of holistic wellness,” said Tara Wolfe, ZYEP’s program manager. “We also present traditional dance to the children as a valuable way to add more physical activity to their daily lives. You can make kids do jumping jacks all day, but you’ll find that this feels relevant to them, and it’s fun. You don’t think about exercise when you’re dancing.”
Janis Bowekaty, Shiwi Ts’ana Elementary School’s principal, attributes the popularity of ZYEP’s classes to the positive relationships instructors cultivate with students. Having ZYEP at the school full-time is seamless for the school, she noted, since the youth project promotes the same core values as the school district, including respect, trust, empathy, and listening to one another.
At Zuni Middle School, the youth project team partnered with host teacher Bryston Bowannie. With his assistance, the team was able to offer an elective during each quarter of the school year.
In Quarter 1, instructor Keith Edaakie taught the basics and traditional connections through painting. Quarter 2 was a traditional dance class taught by Mangaysha Kallestewa and Cyrus Lutse, which gave students an opportunity to learn a traditional dance and then perform it for their school.
“This class also included art and food sovereignty lessons,” Wolfe said. “Students made some of their own regalia, like beadwork and weaving. They worked in the garden and created healthy snacks in class as well. These are all important pieces of holistic wellness.”
In Quarter 3, ZYEP offered a film class in collaboration with A:shiwi College and Career Readiness Center.
“The film class used a social and emotional learning approach, focusing on resilience, community, respect and culture,” Wolfe said. “The students learned about the history of film with lessons by the A:shiwi A:wan Museum and Heritage Center, created storyboards, created a short stop-motion film using cameras and iPads, and ended with a field trip to Native Stars Recording Studio in Gallup, New Mexico.”
Finally, in Quarter 4, ZYEP offered another dance class similar that in Quarter 2. This also incorporated a performance, allowing young people to express core Zuni values through social dances.
“We love this partnership,” said Tahlia Natachu, ZYEP’s executive director. “These classes play an important role, because they provide the first opportunity some kids might have to connect with their Zuni culture in a safe, positive way. We are looking forward to exploring new possibilities and developing our plans for the next school year.”
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.
