ZUNI, NM (Sept. 18, 2024) — As September draws to a close, the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project’s food sovereignty team is preparing to wrap up its summer workshop series with a seed-saving workshop on Wednesday, Sept. 25. Then the team will shift gears for the annual Family Cook Nights Series, which kicks off in October.
These seasonal, culturally relevant programs are made possible with support from the Center for Science in the Public Interest, New Mexico Department of Health Healthy Kids Healthy Communities, Newman’s Own Foundation, CoBank and Native American Food Sovereignty Alliance. These partners also support ZYEP’s annual garden program, which provides garden kits, rain barrels and ongoing support to registered families.
By all accounts, the 2024 summer workshop series has been a successful one to date: 65 community members attended the soil health workshop on June 19; 40 people attended the composting and vermiculture workshop on July 24; and 56 people attended the healthy recipes workshop on Aug. 21. All workshops are free and open to the public, welcoming gardening enthusiasts of all ages.
“Our soccer and flag football leagues were practicing during the August workshop, so that drew in a lot of community members who were curious about what was happening,” said Brittny Seowtewa, ZYEP’s food sovereignty coordinator. “We shared three recipes: ratatouille, Zuni salsa verde, and a Zuni version of calabacitas.”
Seowtewa shared the ratatouille recipe, connecting it to the beloved Disney movie of the same name and showing families how to use traditional components as well as contemporary ones. Norene Lonasee, one of ZYEP’s youth development leaders, handled Zuni salsa verde.
“She shared her own relationship to the recipe and really engaged with families, opening up deeper conversations,” Seowtewa said. “It was emotional, sharing those precious memories.”
Zachary James, ZYEP’s food sovereignty specialist, shared the recipe for Zuni calabacitas. He said it is very similar to the Mexican version of the dish.
“Some families eat it daily, and it’s such a versatile recipe,” he said. “It’s easy, and you can use a variety of vegetables, including green chile. You can make it with food that grows here in Zuni. We want to encourage families to get out there, to grow their own food.”
While their family members learned about ingredients and food preparation, children had the opportunity to participate in a “produce walk” to win different fruits and vegetables. Seowtewa said it was a healthy version of the popular “cake walk” activity often seen at community events.
“Our Zuni kids love a good competition,” she noted with a laugh. “Instead of cake, they were able to take home produce they like, such as watermelon and cherry tomatoes.
“The kids were super excited about the workshop in general,” she continued. “One young person told me she likes making dinner for her family and enjoys experimenting. Now she wants to make ratatouille for her family. It’s nice to hear our youth say they want to share healthy fresh food — and to see their willingness to try new things. A lot of them kept coming back for second and third helpings!”
Scheduled for 6-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 25, the final workshop will focus on seed saving and preservation. At press time, ZYEP’s blue corn crop was almost ready for harvesting, and the acorn squash and pumpkins weren’t far behind.
“Khassandria Hattie, one of our food sovereignty leaders, attended a Native Seed Search ‘Women in Agriculture’ workshop and learned how to make seed-saving screens,” Seowtewa reported. “She will incorporate that into the seed-saving portion of the workshop.”
Participants also will have opportunities to learn about preservation techniques like pickling. This simple technique can be applied to more than cucumbers; the ZYEP team will share information about pickling carrots, onions, watermelon rind and even jalapeños.
Once the final workshop closes, the food sovereignty team will start preparing for the fall Family Cook Night series. The team will host one event per month from October to December, with three families attending in person and 12 joining via Zoom; registration will open later this month, and registered families will receive cooking kits for each event.
Each Family Cook Night features an entree, a side dish and a dessert, with recipes designed to incorporate ZYEP’s recently harvested produce. Examples of previous years’ menu items include black bean tacos with red and green taco sauce, homemade pizza, sweet potato and black bean soup with avocado and tortilla strips, fresh garden salad with dressing, fruit salad with honey-lime and mint dressing, cornbread, pumpkin parfaits and baked apple crumble.
As summer slides into fall, the food sovereignty team also is busy with ZYEP’s “Rooted in Healthy Traditions” after-school program for third, fourth and fifth graders. The RHT program meets every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and food sovereignty is a major activity area for the children.
“During the first week, we got to know each other, made popcorn, put together ‘All About Me’ posters, and shared what ‘healthy’ looks like,” James said. “In the second week, thanks to our partnership with the Zuni Public School District, they were able to spend time in Shiwi Ts’ana Elementary School’s greenhouse. They did a scavenger hunt, helped water the plants and even helped harvest carrots and corn.”
In the program’s third week, the students made salsa, gaining hands-on experience with fresh ingredients and kitchen equipment. And in week four, they will embark on New Mexico’s “Eat Smart Play Hard” state curriculum.
Seowtewa and James both observe that RHT would not be possible without the support of ZPSD. To show the youth project’s appreciation, ZYEP hosts a teacher luncheon each fall; this year’s event took place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sept. 4.
“We put together a big salad bar for 79 teachers,” James said. “It’s important that we have this opportunity to show our appreciation. They work so hard to support the next generation.”
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.
