SEPTEMBER 14, 2016 – MESA, AZ – More than 40 Native youth and adults gathered last Saturday at the UNITY headquarters in Mesa, Arizona for a special evening that coincided with World Suicide Prevention Day. The UNITY Fire gathering, led by Sheldon Smith, Navajo, and Ron Interpreter, Navajo, offered prayers and explained the importance of […]
Shoshone Paiute tribal youth leaders in Nevada hosted and participated in a Prayer Fire to address a rash of recent suicides in their tribal community. Marco Ovando, a member of the UNITY 25 Under 25 Leaders and members of the Shoshone-Paiute Tribal Youth Council teamed up to address three suicides within a two-week period along […]
The National Indian Council on Aging (NICOA) will now have a “UNITY” Fire burning at its conferences for spiritual and community building purposes. NICOA liked the idea of the UNITY Fire so much they invited UNITY youth and others to take part in a ceremonial lighting of the fire to kick off its conference earlier […]
Thanks to funding provided by Freeport McMoran Inc., UNITY youth leaders, advisors and elders were able to experience the UNITY Fire ceremony and learn about fire keeping duties at the UNITY Midyear Conference held last February in Tempe, Arizona. The UNITY Fire program began in the 1990s at the National UNITY Conference. A Seneca elder, […]
Nearly all our ceremonial ways are centered around the use of air, water, plant life, animal life, and the use of fire. For this reason, a member of the 1995 Executive Committee of the National UNITY Council by the name of SleepyEye LaFromboise (Seneca/Dakota) asked one of his grandfathers, Warren Skye (Seneca) pictured, how UNITY […]
Photo: The late Grandpa Warren Skye, former Conference Elder, Fire Keeper Nearly all our ceremonial ways are centered around the use of air, water, pant life, animal life, and the use of fire. For this reason, a member of the 1995 Executive Committee of the National UNITY Council by the name of SleepyEye LaFromboise, Seneca/Dakota, […]
On April 16, 2026, communities across the country are invited to greet the dawn in a moment of reflection, unity, and hope as United National Indian Tribal Youth, Inc. (UNITY) celebrates its 50th birthday. To begin this milestone day, UNITY will host a Sunrise Prayer at 6:00 a.m., welcoming Native youth, elders, families, and community […]
Helena Sorenson has been quietly making big things happen for the UNITY family for a long time. From turning complex travel logistics into smooth arrivals, calm check-ins, and “we’re good” moments when everyone else is stress-sweating. Her career started in service, including volunteer work with the American Red Cross, and grew into decades of travel […]
2026 National UNITY Conference | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma For nearly five decades, United National Indian Tribal Youth (UNITY) has uplifted individuals and youth councils whose leadership strengthens Native youth, families, and communities across Indian Country. As part of the 2026 National UNITY Conference—a historic gathering marking UNITY’s 50th Anniversary —we are proud to honor exceptional […]
Calling All Oklahoma Natives! Join UNITY for this free Healing Circle training for Native youth and the adults who serve them. Sign up today to attend the one-day training on October 17-18, 2025, at the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City, OK. (659 First Americans Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73129) Registration is open to the first 50 Native youth & Advisors who […]
