ZUNI, NM (Dec. 16, 2024) — Last month, two Zuni Youth Enrichment Project youth leaders traveled to Washington, D.C., for the Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions’ Fresh Tracks program. The trip, which also was made possible with support from the Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute, took place on Nov. 13-16.
The Fresh Tracks program provides Native youth with cross-cultural community leadership development training and engagement that is rooted in the healing power of nature and culture. ZYEP youth leaders Ryann Cornelius, 24, and Keely Bobelu, 21, were two of 15 Native youth from tribes across the country who were invited to participate.
Their itinerary incorporated a Day 1 visit to the U.S Department of Interior, where they met National Park Service Director Charles F. “Chuck” Sams III, the first Native person to serve in the position. According to Cornelius, he talked with the young people about the importance of fighting for protection of tribal lands and urged them to apply for government jobs.
“He explained that Native people are in every agency and at every level of government, and this representation must continue,” she said.
The cohort also met with U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland. Afterward, they walked the National Mall and visited the National Museum of the American Indian.
On Day 2, the Native youth attended the 2024 White House Tribal Youth Summit at the Hubert H. Humphrey Federal Building. During the summit, attendees discussed contemporary issues facing Native youth and their communities, such as climate change, food sovereignty, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women/Relatives (MMIW/MMIR), mental health, and substance abuse and suicide prevention.
“The individuals we connected with stressed the importance of Native perspectives on these issues and how vital it is to have tribal voices present and heard,” Cornelius said. “Tracy Canard Goodluck, senior associate director of public engagement and intergovernmental affairs, said that indigenous knowledge and lifeways will combat these issues — and we are already doing that at ZYEP.”
Cornelius has been involved with a variety of ZYEP programs over the years. She has served as a Summer Camp counselor and soccer coach, she recently worked as a mentor in the “Rooted in Healthy Traditions” after-school program, and she is currently supporting ZYEP’s 7th annual Delapna:we Project, which brings traditional Zuni stories to life through the performing arts.
“At ZYEP, we use our traditional Zuni knowledge and lifeways to act as preventative measures and help overcome the barriers we face in Zuni,” she said.
Bobelu agreed, adding, “During one of the speeches, a representative named Makayla Sarracino observed that Native people weren’t present in the conversation when certain policies were being passed, so now that we are represented in these areas, our voices must be heard. This resonated with me, because in Zuni, we use ancestral knowledge passed down through generations. ZYEP is a valuable resource.”
Bobelu also has served as a Summer Camp counselor, soccer coach and RHT mentor. In addition, she completed an Emerging Artist Apprenticeship in sewing and helped lead the fall season of Running Medicine Zuni.
Both Cornelius and Bobelu said they were honored to represent Zuni Pueblo during their time in Washington, D.C. They wore traditional regalia to the White House Tribal Youth Summit, and both young people shared that they welcomed the opportunity to provide information about ZYEP’s mission and impact.
“I felt privileged to represent Zuni with Ryann at the summit,” Bobelu reflected. “I would like to thank Fresh Tracks for including us. It was heartwarming to connect with people from different Native communities. Hearing them speak on behalf of their communities was empowering, and it demonstrated how much indigenous peoples are coming together to address the challenges facing our world.”
“Fresh Tracks is a great organization, and I am thankful to them for reaching out to ZYEP to include us,” Cornelius said. “It allowed us to connect with other Native youth, proudly share ZYEP’s story and connect with other organizations that are working to help tribal communities in various ways. We learned so much, and we are looking forward to applying what we learned in our work at ZYEP!”
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.
