Shiwi Immersion Program | Ashiwi College

Shiwi'ma Bena:we A:deh'ya Immersion Project

The latest project under the umbrella of A:shiwi Tribal College Career and Readiness Center is launching the first ever Shiwi Language Immersion Micro-lab Preschool. It’s referred to as a “micro-lab” because we deliberately want to start very small: fewer than 20 students.

Original logo designed by Tyrell Westika

Homage to Hayes A. Lewis: He is where all this began.

Spearheaded a community coalition to establish Zuni Public School District in 1980-one of the first Native run districts in the US.
Served as Superintendent of ZPSD for a combined 15 years, 1980-1991 and 2012-2016.
Helped local community groups implement Indigenous Curriculum in Kamehameha Schools in Hawaii.
Developed the Center for Lifelong Education in Santa Fe, NM while at the Institute of American Indian Arts.
Secured funding to build a state-of-the-art elementary school in Zuni, now in operation for 9 years.
Revived A:shiwi Tribal College and started the process of accreditation-the first Pueblo college to apply for that standing.
Envisioned a community early childhood language and culture full immersion facility.

THE VISION

Planning Meeting November 2023

Site Prep- August 2024

The idea for this type of undertaking isn’t new. It’s realistically been in the works for decades and as previously mentioned, the brainchild of Hayes A. Lewis. Sadly, the late Executive Director of A:shiwi Tribal College passed away in January of 2025. Mr. Lewis long held and saw a need for a dedicated Zuni Language Immersion space whereby the program would be guided by ancestral knowledge, tribal values, cultural protocols and enhanced Zuni Language strategies.

The initial idea was to create a state-funded charter preschool. Curriculum expectations of potential funding sources were misaligned with what the vision for the language and culture experience would be. That realization gave way to intentionally developing a more truly local school for Shiwi children, by Shiwi educators and like-minded community members.

Funding partners/allies were identified: W.K. Kellogg Foundation for the capital outlay support and to the New Mexico Indian Education Department under PED for the curriculum development and operating expenses.

Enrollment will not just be for students under the age of 5 but will also include their families and/or caretakers~ individuals who will commit to being true partners in language preservation along with the child.

ATC will offer language support for the caretakers/adults in the form of: seminars, classes, presentations, meetings and collaborations.

THE FACILITY

Groundbreaking Ceremony- September 22, 2025

Foundation work- November 2025

Site Survey

Foundation Framing and conduit placement

-November 2025

A licensed company called Paja Construction from Albuquerque that specializes in building with straw bale and adobe got the bid to create the space for this much-anticipated program.

The final floor plans were completed in the spring of 2025 and groundbreaking commenced on September 22, 2025. At the time of writing, construction is 16 weeks into construction with an estimated completion date in the Winter of 2026.

A community contest named this future program. The chosen name was submitted by Councilwoman Virginia Chavez in March of 2024. The idea was to focus solely on putting our language into the ears of very young learners in an immersive fashion.

Children will be surrounded by Shiwi’ma Bena: for the duration that they are in the language space. ---No English--- The name reflects this ideal and captures a wholistic view of what it means to bring language back fully to a child:

Shiwi’ma Bena:we A:deh’ya means Zuni Language is precious/valuable/sacred.

Councilwoman Virginia Chavez

THE PROGRAM

A specially curated curriculum called “A:shiwi Hon A:dehya~ Ho’n A:wan Shiwi’ma Bena: Haydoshna:we,” designed by the Shiwi Language Board and other community members will spearhead the daily teaching in the immersion program.

Shiwi’ma: Bena: Haydoshna:we will be solely centered and delivered in a dedicated space for families of young learners who commit to doing the work to make it happen.

The learning areas within the structure will reflect our culture, beliefs and essence in a beautifully prepared environment where the children and their growing relationship with their Shiwi Identity will be the focus.

Other forms of best practices in addition to our own Haydoshna:we or cultural ways will include pedagogy from Montessori and Reggio Emelia realms.

Especially affirmed will be the strength of the children as the next generation of language and knowledge keepers.