When Native youth come together with purpose, powerful ideas begin to take shape. This January, Weston Bird of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation continued his leadership journey by helping guide youth through planning, healing, and community engagement during the UNITY Midyear Conference and back home in North Dakota. As the Great Plains Regional Representative […]
Phoenix, Arizona — January 19, 2026 During the UNITY Midyear Conference in Phoenix, the National UNITY Council (NUC) officially adopted a powerful resolution titled “Restoring Balance: Healing Trauma & Ending Violence in Native Communities.”Approved at the National UNITY Council Business Meeting with a quorum present, the resolution establishes a unified, youth-driven framework to address some […]
For Amaya Escalante of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, the UNITY Midyear Conference was more than a leadership gathering—it was a space to reconnect with culture, build relationships, and strengthen the collective voice of Native youth. As a Western Region Executive Committee Member of the National UNITY Council, Amaya attended the 2026 UNITY Midyear Conference held […]
Native youth leadership is strongest when it uplifts the well-being of the community. This January, Ethan Hedgepeth of Cherokee and Tuscarora heritage stepped into that role by helping guide important conversations around mental health and wellness while continuing to stay connected with Native students on campus. As a Southeast Executive Committee Member of the National […]
For Tia Butler of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, January was a month rooted in cultural education, community outreach, and preparing for the UNITY Midyear Conference. Throughout the month, Tia continued working with students and community members to share teachings about traditional plant medicines and Indigenous ecological knowledge. These educational efforts help pass down […]
Service, culture, and education guided the start of the year for Victor Organista of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation (PBPN). As a Southern Plains Executive Committee Member of the National UNITY Council, Victor spent January engaging in community service, tribal governance discussions, cultural education, and academic progress—demonstrating what it means to lead through action. On […]
From the moment youth leaders arrive, the energy of the UNITY Midyear Conference is something you can feel in the room. For Alina Sanchez of the Miwok Wilton Rancheria, the 2026 UNITY Midyear Conference in Phoenix, Arizona was a powerful reminder of why Native youth leadership matters. Held from January 16–19, the gathering brought together […]
Hope for the future of Indian Country was on full display this January as hundreds of Native youth gathered in Phoenix, Arizona for the 2026 UNITY Midyear Conference. Among the leaders helping guide that momentum was Watson Whitford, Chippewa Cree and Navajo leader and Co-President of the National UNITY Council Executive Committee. The Midyear Conference […]
January offered moments of reflection and connection for Alina Sanchez of the Miwok Wilton Rancheria, who serves as the Pacific Region Representative on the National UNITY Council Executive Committee. Through community gatherings and personal reflection activities, Alina spent the month strengthening relationships while focusing on wellness and growth. At the beginning of the month, Alina […]
January offered Alina Sanchez two powerful reminders that leadership often happens at the intersection of advocacy, education, and culture. As the Pacific Region Representative for the National UNITY Council Executive Committee, Alina participated in gatherings that encouraged reflection on community challenges while uplifting Native presence on college campuses. On January 24, Alina attended the CYBHI […]
