ZUNI, NM (April 29, 2026) — As the spring growing season gets underway, the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project is moving forward with an expanded slate of food sovereignty initiatives in the Pueblo of Zuni. These include family garden apprenticeships, community workshops and youth engagement across school and camp programs.
The nonprofit’s food sovereignty team is building on years of programming to support families more intensively this year. They also are strengthening community partnerships and providing opportunities to connect food, land and culture.
At the center of this work is a new apprentice-style pilot project for three Zuni families. Each family includes a child who has been involved with ZYEP for years.
“We identified inspiring youth who have multiple years of involvement with our garden kits, in- and after-school programming, Shiwi Chefs and Family Cook Nights,” said Brittny Seowtewa, ZYEP’s food sovereignty coordinator. “They’re very invested in food sovereignty work.”
The young participants—Bryson, 10; Carmine, 11; and Robyn, 8—will work alongside their families to build and maintain home gardens with ZYEP support. The organization is equipping each household with a 2,000-gallon water tank, gutter system, materials to build raised beds, fencing and seeds.
“We know these types of projects are expensive, and we’re honored to be able to support them,” Seowtewa noted. “Uplifting our cultural traditions is our reward.”
To help shape the apprenticeship project, ZYEP met with its Agricultural Advisory Committee on April 10 to gather guidance on the best ways to incorporate cultural components. Seowtewa said this year’s workshops will reflect that guidance.
“They essentially will be open talks, because that’s how our knowledge traditionally has been shared,” she explained. “Enric Tsalate, our built environment leader, will be providing assistance as a cultural advisor. He knows so much about our traditional agricultural approaches, and our kids and families will benefit from that.”
The apprenticeship project is one part of a broader spring effort that includes community-based learning opportunities. On April 18, ZYEP participated in a workshop at Spirit Farm in Vanderwagen, New Mexico, where participants—including the three apprentice families—explored composting, soil health, raised-bed gardening and other topics.
“We hosted a table with our seed starts, which we call seed burritos,” Seowtewa said with a smile. “We had to work indoors longer than expected this spring, because of the wild swings in our weather. We needed to get those seed babies started.”
Back in Zuni, the youth project is now preparing for a community “planting party” at Ho’n A:wan Park. At the late spring event, families will be able to assist with planting, receive their own seeds for the growing season and participate in a garden Q&A. More details will be available the weeks to come.
Youth engagement remains a central component of the organization’s food sovereignty work. From March 2 to May 1, ZYEP has been working with 510 students in pre-K through sixth grade at Shiwi Ts’ana Elementary School, providing its Rooted in Healthy Traditions curriculum as well as traditional dance instruction in teacher Shanell Leekya’s physical education class.
Seed-starting quickly became a favorite activity as the children planted sweet peas, squash, tomatoes, pumpkins, sunflowers and pollinator-friendly plants. During one classroom session, ZYEP Food Sovereignty Leaders Khassia Hattie and DeVon Bowekaty encouraged the students to speak to their seeds as part of a traditional Zuni practice.
“It was the cutest thing,” Seowtewa said. “The kids whispered to the seeds, telling them to grow and be strong. They wanted to make their plants happy, and I kid you not, the tomato plants sprouted in just one week.”
Those seedlings will soon be transplanted to the Zuni Senior Center, Zuni Head Start and the Zuni Housing Authority’s Lakeside Apartments complex. The youth project also is arranging to give Zuni Head Start a water tank and a hydroponic grow tower.
“The children are welcome at all three locations to visit their plants and assist with garden care,” Seowtewa added.
In addition, ZYEP continues to integrate food sovereignty education in new ways. In March, the organization hosted its first Spring Break Camp, and the Shiwi Chefs activity brought together approximately 18 youth for several days of hands-on learning and delicious food.
“The kids were shy on day 1 and then so excited by day 2,” Seowtewa said, laughing. “They were inseparable, and you could see the excitement and joy.”
Participants prepared a range of dishes, from traditional blue corn sweet tamales to themed St. Patrick’s Day recipes such as rainbow leprechaun fruit pizzas and shamrock green smoothies. The team also raised awareness about the sugar content of packaged drinks, showing the youth how to make easy, healthy alternatives like galaxy tea.
“Shiwi Chefs is definitely one of my favorite programs,” Seowtewa said.
Looking ahead, ZYEP is preparing for additional spring and summer programming, including a visit from 42 elementary school students to assist with garden preparation and early planting, weather permitting. And the 18th annual Summer Camp, which takes place June 22 through July 17, will include a more in-depth version of Shiwi Chefs; cooking and gardening will be central to this work, strengthening the program’s focus on food sovereignty.
With guidance from its Agricultural Advisory Committee, ZYEP’s food sovereignty initiative is dedicated to providing access to resources, instruction and knowledge sharing for people of all ages and abilities. The initiative is made possible with support from Newman’s Own Foundation, New Mexico Department of Health’s Healthy Kids Healthy Communities, Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples, CoBank, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and McCune Charitable Foundation.
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.
