Zuni religion is the oral history, cosmology, and religion of the Zuni people. The Zuni are a Pueblo people located in New Mexico. Their religion is integrated into their daily lives and respects ancestors, nature, and animals. Because of a history of religious persecution by non-native peoples, they are very private about their religious beliefs. Roman Catholicism has to some extent been integrated into traditional Zuni religion.
Cultural institutions that provide religious instruction and cultural stability include their priests, clans, kivas (kachina society), and healing societies. A ceremonial cycle brings the community together. While some ceremonies are open to non-Zuni peoples, others are private; for instance the Shalako ceremony and feast has been closed to outsiders since 1990.
Creation
In Frank Cushing's The Genesis of the Worlds, Or the Beginning of Newness, only Áwonawílona had being. This All-Father, Maker and Container of All, made himself into the Sun Father, Yatoka. The mist clouds formed into the Great Waters, where Earth Mother, Áwitelin Tsíta, and Sky Father, Ápoyan Ta'chu, formed, the two of whom conceived all men and creatures in the four-fold womb of the world. The Sun Father and Earth Mother then brought forth the Twin Children of the Sun, the twin brothers Ko'wituma and Wats'usi. These twins were endowed with sacred knowledge, caps, bows, arrows and shields to have dominion over all men and creatures as Twin War Gods. They descended into Ánosin Téhuli, the first Underworld where they formed a ladder for some of the men and creatures to ascend to the second cave-world called Moss World, K'ólin Téhuli. Once again the twins formed a ladder for entry into the third world called the World of Mud, Áwisho Téhuli, and finally the last cave-world called Wing World, Tépahaian Téhuli. Here, the twins instructed men in the ways of life and to seek the Sun Father, before they gained entry into the Daylight World, Ték'ohaian Úlahnane. Initially covered in scaly skin and having webbed feet and hands, the men eventually grew accustomed to the light and clothed themselves in girdles and sandals.