A Story Teller

Five months ago, at the Spanish Colonial Art Market at the Fort restaurant, I met a lady and an hour later we were still talking. She was born on the Zuni Reservation and even though she is now "Americanized" she has kept up with her Zuni tribe. I mentioned to her that we have a group at Spirit of Christ Catholic Community called Young At Heart and maybe she could come talk to us and tell us about the Zuni's.

I invited her to go to Black Hawk with the group and I noticed that in between gambling she worked on a shawl for an upcoming Pow Wow. She mentioned that the different colors of the shawls represent different seasons, much like priests wearing different colored vestments.

Our Entertainment Chairperson, contacted the lady and on February 18, 2020. she will come to do a presentation of her life; from living on the reservation until now.  I called her and spoke with her and was amazed at the topics she could talk about. Pottery, Code Talkers, Indian Bread, Jewelry, Weaving and Pow-Wows. We laughed when I said, "Those are all great topics!" and she responded with "Sure, but it would take five hours and not the hour allotted." Her main topic will center on religion. Since the theme for the dinner will be Honoring America, she will also talk about the Code Talkers. Even though her father and uncle were from the Zuni tribe, they lived very close to the Navajo Nation and  knew the Navajo language. After training they also became code talkers.

She is retired from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and continues to give presentations about her life to schools, government agencies, and groups like ours.

From our Newsletter: She will shower you with stories from her upbringing and how her spirituality was enhanced by the knowledge that was passed on to her from both her Zuni an Catholic religions.

"Since here is nothing so well
worth as having friends,
never lose a chance 
to make them."
Francesco Guicciardini