Democracy in Zuni, New Mexico

When I look at Dowa Yalanne Mountain I see freedom and peace. It is sacred to us. We, as Shiwi people have our own constitution and rights. We are free to believe in whatever religion but no matter what individuals believe, we all hold DY sacred.

By Kailani E. from Zuni High School in New Mexico

Zuni High School

Cushman - AP Lang and Comp

Cushman - 8th hour AP Language and Composition

Language Preservation of the A:shiwi

The Zuni (A:shiwi) people, like all Indigenous peoples, are valiantly endeavoring to save their sacred language.

Sheep walking on the road

My family and I always have to wait for these sheep to pass the road. Even wildlife and livestock have the freedom to walk on the road. Ojo Caliente, Pueblo of Zuni, NM

Conjoining Zuni High and Middle School, Will It Work?

The plan to solve both the Zuni High School and Zuni Middle School's problem is to create one conjoined school where the high school is currently located. Will a conjoined school work or not?

Digital Arts Program at Zuni High School

A digital arts program in Zuni Public School District would help students embrace art and technology of the 21st century and help students be more employable after high school.

D.Y. Mountain

This is D.Y. Mountain. This is one of our sacred mountains that our people once lived on after the village flooded.

Zuni Animal Adoption Shelter / Clinic

As I drive around the Zuni Reservation, I see so many rez dogs in need of help. These dogs need "fixing" but Zuni doesn't have an animal clinic or shelter.

Sun going down at Black Rock hill

A special moment at sunset.

Sleeping Problems in Youth

Students who struggle with sleeping are more likely to develop mental health problems.

Irresponsible Dog Breeding in Zuni, NM

Rez dogs have started costing people and the community too much.

Pueblo Pottery

Wound through time, native pottery coils through history and into the future.

Generations of running

This was taken at the 2021 NM State Cross-Country Race. Our ancestors would run to different places sending messages and receiving messages. Running has been a part of our generation for many years and here we successfully continue the cycle.

Democracy in Zuni, NM

The sun was setting down on October 25, 2021. You just have to appreciate our freedoms like being outside and enjoy nature.

Men's Mental Health

Men's mental health matters too.

Valisha Neha- Shortage of substitute teachers

Shortage of Substitute teachers within New Mexico

Democracy in Zuni

This picture is a "vote here" sign. I choose this because to me, it is showing how our tribal government uses a system of picking and replacing the old government with new people through free and fair elections.

Rez freedom

This is Trevor, he is not a "Rez dog" but he is a dog living on the Rez. He has freedom within a confined system, just like Native Americans who have freedom within a "confined system".

Democracy: A fragile strength in America

Democracy nowadays is a lot like this ancient A:shiwi pottery piece from 1050 AD: broken and delicate. Although it has gone through years, decades or even centuries of hardships, it has still stayed somewhat intact.

Democracy In Zuni

A tree has grown through a tractor that has been sitting in the middle of Zuni for many years. Just like democracy, it takes time to implement change and sometimes the change can affect something significant like removing the tractor from the tree.

Box Canyon

This is the spring at Box Canyon, near Nutria, where A:shiwi people stayed back then.

Democracy in Zuni, NM

The Dowa Yolanne Mountain shows democracy through the freedom we have, allowing us to practice our religion.

Zuni High School Baseball Field

Poor construction and poor welds are some problems that the Zuni High School baseball field is facing after only two years of being built.

Democracy In Zuni

The sun was setting on the view down the Black Rock Hill on 10/20/21. Sometimes you just have to appreciate our freedoms, like being outside and enjoying nature.

Gender Equality in the Sports World and within Native American Communities

Women’s equality has evolved over the last hundred years, but has it really changed?

BIA- Bureau of Indian Affairs

BIA represents the federal branch of the tribal government by assisting in local fires, forestry, wildlife management, help with fire wood and job opportunities. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Zuni New Mexico, October 28, 2021.

Democracy in Zuni

Darkness is always represented as the downsides of an object. In recent years, it feels that our tribal government has let down the people of Zuni.

Democracy in Shiwi

This picture describes democracy in Zuni by showing a baseball field here at the high school, the school district had bought this baseball field so that we could play this sport.

Culture Is Not Mass-Produced

The story behind two Zuni silversmiths and their efforts to market their jewelry in the face of non-Native opportunists who steal authentic designs to mass produce for a global market.

"My happiest moment"

Haiden's happiest moment is when she's with her sister.

My Dawg on The Rez

A rez dog is a dog that is mixed breed, basically a mutt. They have no real home and roam around the rez with no real purpose. My dog is a rez dog and has been able to survive the harsh conditions we call home here in Zuni land.

Humans of Zuni: Jodi Kallestewa

This is Jodi Kallestewa's story. How she has overcome adversity and struggle to become more confident and outgoing.

Camaeron's Story

This story or set of little quotes is from someone very important, whose words are short but meaningful.

Get To Know Your Neighbor

Interview with Taliya Tsalate.

Humans of Zuni: Chasady Simplicio

Peering into the ocean of wandering waves, for the mind seeks beyond the shores and piers, past the blue horizons, and into the welcoming skies of the next morning.

Democracy

This place reminds me of the first time that I arrived in Zuni, NM. Aspects of the environment here such as the landscape, houses, and the way people interact with each other give me sensations and feelings that remind me of India, where I'm from.

Secret lands of the Zuni Pueblo

No skyscrapers in sight, no blur from the smog. Only a beautiful landscape captured in the morning that comes with freezing your fingers off to greet our Father Sun. Defining peace and sovereignty found here only in the Zuni Pueblo.

Flower with freedom

This native flower symbolizes freedom because it grows wherever it wants without any law or restrictions for it to stop growing, it's a living thing that can grow freely unlike some humans that don’t get that much freedom like plants do.

The most important person.

This my interview of my classmate, Alexandra Eustace.

Humans of Zuni: Anthony Sice

In the Pueblo of Zuni, we open ourselves to windows of opportunity to grow and prosper. Anthony found his passion for baseball in the red dirt fields, playing with family, uncovering a talent he didn't know he had, and nurturing that talent.

Humans of AR

Pride and Mistakes

Democracy To Me

This is the Lawrenceville Municipal Building. Democracy, to me, is citizen’s choice. By having citizens take part and have an influence on our daily life, it creates democracy.

Conjoining Zuni High and Middle School, Will It Work?

The plan to solve both the Zuni High School and Zuni Middle School's problem is to create one conjoined school where the high school is currently located. Will a conjoined school work or not?

Local Government Issue

I believe that this writing project leaves much more to learn from the government and issues facing communities in our own life versus big national politics.

Language Preservation of the A:shiwi

The Zuni (A:shiwi) people, like all Indigenous peoples, are valiantly endeavoring to save their sacred language.

Democracy to me

Democracy to me is when people come together to make an important decision. This picture represents democracy to me because pennies may not seem important but just like people they're there when you need them.

Humans of Tioga County

Democracy is brotherhood.

"Rez''ilient Education

Our tribal sovereigntypaves the way for us to developa unique education system that is the foundation for ensuring we support and enrich the deep culture we have within our community.

Democracy To Me

Democracy to me means being able to spend time with those who I care for, knowing that they’ll become something great someday and make a huge difference in our country and in our world.

Democracy

To me, democracy means unity. Everyone is to be included no matter any differing trait they may have like their beliefs, sex, race, and culture. This equality builds our country and welcomes diversity in bonds and people.

Humans of Zuni: Jodi Kallestewa

This is Jodi Kallestewa's story. How she has overcome adversity and struggle to become more confident and outgoing.

Democracy

Democracy to me

I think democracy is spending time with friends and family, to look back on the special memories together.

Democracy

Friendship is democracy because we all have different opinions but still come together.

Men's Mental Health

Men's mental health matters too.

Local Government Issue

After looking at the issues a in Lawrenceville's government, I have learned that Lawrenceville is barely functioning. We are missing a ton of positions and things are not getting done. I have also learned that the government is corrupt.

Liberty and Justice for all

As some may stand for the pledge and others may just sit down. And few might even support, but still not get up, why? One’s opinions should not affect us, but how come we feel offended if one person doesn't share the same faith as we do.

Democracy in Zuni

Darkness is always represented as the downsides of an object. In recent years, it feels that our tribal government has let down the people of Zuni.

How can the COVID vaccine impact the current COVID crisis?

This post is an article summarizing the current global crisis and how the vaccine decreases the spread of COVID around the world. It also addresses the impact of COVID in communities, hospitals and peoples lives.

Zuni Animal Adoption Shelter / Clinic

As I drive around the Zuni Reservation, I see so many rez dogs in need of help. These dogs need "fixing" but Zuni doesn't have an animal clinic or shelter.

Our Democracy

True democracy is a great goal, of course everyone wants to have an equal say, but in practice there is still injustice. Not everyone has the same size straw, and some don't even have a drink, so to say.

Culture Preservation and Native Americans

Native Americans have endured so much abuse for far too long. Now something must be done about it and we must be heard.

Earth as a part of tribal sovereignty

The land has a deeply rooted connection to the A:shiwi people. They have had many obstacles but remain on their sacred land.

My Democracy

To me Democracy means that I, a black woman, have the freedom to participate in the economy without supervision.