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

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.

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

Democracy in Zuni, NM

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

Box Canyon

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

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.

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.

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.

Pueblo Pottery

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

Language Preservation of the A:shiwi

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

Irresponsible Dog Breeding in Zuni, NM

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

Valisha Neha- Shortage of substitute teachers

Shortage of Substitute teachers within New Mexico

Sleeping Problems in Youth

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

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.

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.

Men's Mental Health

Men's mental health matters too.

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.

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.

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?

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.

Sun going down at Black Rock hill

A special moment at sunset.

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.

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 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.

Humans of Zuni: Joshua Mahkee

With life bringing many challenges and problems, you can always find a person smiling through it all. Here is the story of my brother Joshua and his journey of self-introspection and finding happiness.

Sustainability for Sovereign Native Communities

When people think about Native communities, they think about the poverty levels and the stereotypes. I wanted to show how sovereign Native communities can continue to sustain themselves and thrive through the reclamation of ancestral traditions.

The Happiest Moment of My Life.

The happiest moment in my life was when my sister told me exciting news I never expected.

Humans of Zuni: Jodi Kallestewa

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

Letter To The Editor

Letter to the editor of The Independent.

"My happiest moment"

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

Our sovereignty is inherent

We have always been a sovereign people and one with the earth since the beginning of time.

Never Quit

This post is based on a interview that I conducted with a fellow student named Autumn Cooeyate.

Tribal Sovereignty: Washed Faces

As the children are fed along a river, they find gratitude in the heart of the land. From one corn stalk to the next, the seed grows and the root stretches into the underworld, grasping the soul of their ancestors. A mother's sovereignty.

Red Road of Connection

"We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children." -Chief Seattle of the Duwamish Tribe

Symbol of Freedom: The American Flag

The flag is a promise of freedom and human rights which we all honor. The horse and the Indian stands for liberty and enlightenment. #Shiwi

Tribal Sovereignty and Writing the Op-Ed

The fight to have our voices heard to bring back Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.

Men's Mental Health

Men's mental health matters too.

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 Tioga County

Democracy is brotherhood.

Examining the Right to Protest

Examining the Right to Protest looks at two of the most influential cases towards the right to protest. The National Socialist Party v. The village of Stokie and Oregon v. De Jonge and looks at how those cases can be applied today with protests.

Humans of the “The Peperbox”

Interview

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

Tioga Court House

Pueblo Pottery

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

Democracy to me

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

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.

"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.

Language Preservation of the A:shiwi

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

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.

Symbol of Freedom: Native Pride

Native Pride, a symbol of the indigenous people’s freedom like how the white men wanted our land and they were taking it over, and this poster is saying that we can grow on our lands without being pushed out of the way.

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.

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?

My Democracy

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

Democracy

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

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.

Our democracy

Django Everta's Our Democracy Post This post discusses how the democracy present today in the United States surrenders one's personal power to the government, and how to remedy that.

Humans of AR

An interview from the very epic Rosa.

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.

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.

Our Democracy

In this document I have chosen a picture that represents what Democracy means to me. Democracy involves everything about people being given equal opportunities.