Assessing Knowledge and Perceptions About Cancer Among American Indians of the Zuni Pueblo, NM

American Indians (AIs) in New Mexico have lower cancer screening rates compared to other populations and are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer at an advanced stage of the disease as reported by Li et al. (Archives of Internal Medicine 163(1):49–56, 2003). AIs also have the lowest 5-year cancer survival rates compared to any ethnic/racial group in the USA as reported by Clegg et al. (Arch Intern Med 162:1985–1993, 2002) and Edwards et al. (Cancer 97:1407–1427, 2005). Numerous barriers such as cultural beliefs, fear, fatalism, mistrust, stigma, and lack of culturally appropriate interventions could contribute to low cancer screening rates as reported by Daley et al. (J Health Dispar Res Pract 5(2), 2012); Filippi et al. (J Prim Care Community Health 4(3):160–166, 2013); James et al. (Prev Chronic Dis 10:E170, 2013); and Schumacher et al. (Cancer Causes Control 19(7):725–737, 2008). Trained Community Health Representatives (CHRs) from the Zuni Pueblo and native Zuni undergraduate students led six 1-h focus group sessions using a structured focus group guide with probes. The focus groups were conducted among 51 participants from different age groups (20–29 years, n = 19; 30–49 years, n = 17; and 50 years and older, n = 15) stratified by sex. Focus groups were conducted in both English and Shiwi (Zuni) languages. Sessions were audio recorded, and team members took notes. CHRs transcribed the notes and audio recordings, and created a codebook for qualitative data analysis. In the focus groups, participants provided Zuni-specific cultural context, opinion, and experience regarding (1) general knowledge about cancer, (2) cancer risk, (3) cancer risk reduction, (4) personal experiences with cancer, and (5) culturally competent delivery of cancer information and resources. Understanding the perceptions of cancer within the Zuni Pueblo is an essential component in the development of interventional/preventative measures and improvement of current care. Ultimately, this information will provide a basis for the next steps in culturally sensitive cancer care for the Zuni Pueblo.

Melting the Kachinas: Agricultural Hegemony and Indigenous Incorporation at Zuni Pueblo in the Modern Era

An historical political ecology of Zuni Pueblo illustrates several processes that led to native agricultural decline in the region. Modern indigenous agriculture, and its associated techniques or practices, is marginalized within the literature. The reasons for the decline of traditional agricultural management at Zuni, as for much of the Southwestern United States, are complex. U.S. federal policies aimed at breaking indigenous theocractic rule, reforming land tenure, and modernizing reservation agriculture all contributed to this process at Zuni Pueblo. Underlying the material changes were also several conceptual or ideological processes that served the same purpose, and one that can be termed agricultural hegemony. The replacement of the Zuni kachinas, icons of discipline within traditional ceremonial roles, with those of modern agricultural sciences and practices were fundamental to the eventual outcome. Key words: Zuni Pueblo, agriculture, landscape, native policy, hegemony, historical political ecology.

Early Irrigation on the Colorado Plateau near Zuni Pueblo, New Mexico

The introduction of maize agriculture into the Southwest and onto the Colorado Plateau was accompanied by irrigation techniques. Twenty-six radiocarbon dates at two sites, K'yana Chabina and K'yawa:na'a Deyatchinanne, in the Zuni area of New Mexico, establish the use of irrigation canals to between 3,000 and 1,000 years ago. Associated features and the presence of nearby habitation sites independently corroborate the chronology of canal building. The geomorphology of the Zuni landscape and the morphology of the irrigation canals are consistent with the artificial construction of the canals. Pollen evidence points to an agricultural landscape and the cultivation of maize.