In the Fort Berthold community of White Shield, North Dakota, February was a month focused on culture, creativity, and personal growth. Weston Bird, Great Plains Representative for the National UNITY Council Executive Committee and a member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, helped support events that strengthened connections within the community while encouraging youth leadership and wellness.
On February 12, the MHA Youth Council hosted a community beading workshop that welcomed participants of all ages. Everyone who attended received materials and guidance to create their own beadwork, including bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and dreamcatchers. The workshop served as more than just a creative activity—it provided an opportunity for community members to gather, learn new skills, and connect with one another.
Beading is an important cultural practice throughout many Native communities, and events like this help pass those traditions forward while encouraging creativity and confidence among participants. The workshop also helped strengthen relationships between the youth council and the wider community.
Later in the month, from February 24–26, students at White Shield High School participated in a three-day educational program called The Good Road of Life (GRL), presented by the nonprofit organization Native Pride. The curriculum, developed by Clayton Small and Maha Charani-Small, focuses on building resilience and leadership through cultural teachings and sources of strength such as spirituality, humor, and community support.
The Good Road of Life program addresses important challenges facing Native communities, including substance abuse, violence, incarceration, depression, suicide, and trauma. By helping participants recognize these risks and connect with positive cultural values, the program encourages individuals to make choices that strengthen their personal wellness and leadership.
The course also included team-based activities and games that allowed participants to build camaraderie while learning together. Teams of eight to twelve participants competed throughout the three-day program to earn the highest score. Weston’s team, named “Naahukosu,” finished in third place.
At the conclusion of the course, each participant received a certificate of completion and was recognized with words of encouragement and compliments from others in the group—a moment that reinforced the program’s emphasis on community support and personal growth.
Reflecting on the month’s events, Weston shared that both the beading workshop and the Good Road of Life program helped strengthen the sense of community in White Shield.
“This event brought our community together in a good way.”
Through cultural workshops and leadership programs, Weston continues to support opportunities that help Native youth and community members build confidence, strengthen relationships, and walk their own path along the good road of life.
