Zuni students learn ropes of team work

Michael Manwell carries a board across the low ropes team-building course at Zuni High School Friday. The course was part of the Zuni Youth Conference. (Photo by John A. Bowersmith/Independent)

By Pamela G. Dempsey
Staff Writer

Students attending the Zuni Youth Conference look on as artist Alex Seowtewa, middle, explains the mural he is painting in the Old Zuni Mission. Seowtewa and his sons have been working on the mural for almost 35 years. The life-size characters progress through the seasons on both the north and south walls of the mission. (Photo by John A. Bowersmith/Independent)

ZUNI — A group of kids and some adults huddled around planks of wood and tried to decide how to get across the shiny gym floor by way of a few log stumps strategically placed nearby.

The rules were simple: floor off-limits and planks very thin.

"Your goal is to get from point A to point B without losing anybody," said Royal Martin, the ropes course instructor.

The group gave it a go.

Michael Manwell, 23, balanced on the first log stump and made a balance beam with the wood plank between the first two stumps.

The Zuni High School gym was quiet as Manwell made his way across. Each success was greeted with clapping.

With the help of two other group members, a skinny bridge formed between three of the four logs.

Then somebody fell off and hit the floor.

As part of the rules, the group had to start over.

"Team building and problem solving," Martin said of the ropes course he came to teach for two days. "(The kids) learn a lot from it, there's a sense of accomplishment."

Martin and other presenters participated in this year's Zuni Youth Conference, now in its seventh year.

Although it's geared toward students 10 and older, the conference was open to the community.

"Our goal is that they hopefully learn life skills and stay away from drugs and alcohol," said Vurlene Bowekaty, organizer of the event and prevention specialist with Zuni's Division of Health.

This year's event featured more activities such as basketball, volleyball, and running camps.

Chad Lewis, a tight end with the Philadelphia Eagles, also paid a visit.

"He was a hit," Bowekaty said, of Lewis' first visit to a reservation.

Other groups visited the Old Mission where artist Alex Seowtewa gave a tour of the murals he has worked on for the past 35 years.

"If you want to be an artist, do not be afraid of colors," Seowtewa said.

His murals depict ceremonies performed throughout the year.

Zuni images were allowed on the walls, he said, because the Spaniards thought that if the Zuni people saw them, they would come to the mission on their own.

"When I do art and when I do things, I always practice patience," Seowtewa said. "Only through patience, only through performance, it gives you a strong heart."

The conference was held Thursday and Friday, the last two days of local schools' spring break.

"This is like our entertainment," said fourth-grader Kara Waikaniwa, who just finished up a hip-hop workout to the sounds of J. Lo's "Get It Right" before lunch.

Waikaniwa and 13-year old Samantha Paquin both demonstrated the Turkey Dance and a pow-wow for show and tell in one of the morning workshops.

Both joined the community's AAA Dance Group earlier this week.

"It takes a lot of effort," Paquin said, "being a positive role model."

— To contact reporter Pam Dempsey call (505) 879-1707 or email pamelagdempsey@msn.com