The Delapna:we Project: Preserving the Art of Zuni Storytelling

Native Arts Speaker Series
Panelists: Tahlia Natachu-Eriacho (Zuni) and Curtis Quam (Zuni)
Date: Friday, October 23, 2026
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Venue: SAR's Dobkin Boardroom
This event will also be streamed on YouTube Live - no registration required to view the livestream.
Join members of Ho’n A:wan Productions, a collaboration between the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project, A:shiwi A:wan Museum & Heritage Center, and other community stakeholders, as they discuss the history and impact of the Delapna:we Project. The project, which was developed around a series of oral histories recorded in the 1960s, has become a community led initiative to preserve the Zuni language, revitalize storytelling traditions, and strengthen connections across generations.
Tahlia Natachu-Eriacho is from Zuni Pueblo and her clans are dakkya:kwe (frog) deyan yadokkya:kwe awan cha’le (child of the sun). After receiving her Masters in Education from Portland State University, she returned to her hometown of Zuni to teach 7th grade language arts. She loved the youth and the classroom but knew there were foundational needs beyond academics. The opportunity to work for Zuni Youth Enrichment Project has allowed Tahlia to foster the growth, resilience, and holistic wellness of Zuni youth through engaging programs that are rooted in the strengths of Zuni culture.
Curtis Quam is a member of the A:shiwi (Zuni) Tribe and leads the A:shiwi A:wan Museum and Heritage Center where he has worked for over 20 years. He is a member of the Zuni Cultural Resource Advisory Team and has collaborated with museums across the United States and internationally. His work focuses on educating the Zuni community, particularly the youth, about their rich cultural history, traditions, and beliefs through various media. Quam is deeply involved in efforts to preserve and share A:shiwi language and culture, including their oral histories, art, and agricultural practices.