Youth Councils in Action
Marla Mesarina’s February leadership work linked conference responsibilities with council-building, language learning, and cultural exchange across the Midwest. Returning home from UNITY’s Midyear Conference, she continued supporting youth who wanted stronger connections with the organization while taking on a new local council role.
Mesarina, who identifies as Leech Lake Ojibwe and Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, served as Midwest Representative in UNITY’s 2023–2024 National UNITY Council Executive Committee cohort. The cohort represents youth perspectives, connects regional councils and individual members, and develops leadership through cooperation and service.
At Midyear, she met two new youth councils and stayed in contact to support their connection with UNITY and plans to attend the National Conference. She also presented a speed workshop with Northeast Representative Nathan Solorio and served as an emcee for the mock pageant, combining facilitation with responsibilities that helped shape the conference experience.
Back in Minnesota, Mesarina worked with TrekNorth Native Youth Council on plans for Indigenous Games for people of all abilities. She attended Leech Lake Youth Council meetings as members approved bylaws and held elections, and she was elected Female Co-Chair. These activities placed inclusive programming and local organization-building alongside her regional work.
Cultural gatherings created further opportunities to learn and connect. At the Black Bear Gala Ojibwemowin Storytelling night, she explored language and met youth interested in involving their schools with UNITY. She also communicated with Deer River High School and Cass Lake-Bena High School about interest in forming councils.
A trip to Michigan for the Native Nations Youth Council Winter Round Dance offered another form of exchange. “The Winter Round Dance was such a beautiful event for both me & the Leech Lake Youth Council to experience,” she wrote.
“Both the Leech Lake Youth Council and I, myself left feeling inspired and motivated to host something similar on our own reservation!” Mesarina shared, praising the host council’s care for guests and cultural involvement.
Her report shows community impact taking shape through practical follow-through: maintaining contacts, participating in bylaws and elections, planning accessible activities, and learning from another council’s example. Those responsibilities connect UNITY’s cultural and social development goals with the everyday work of building youth-led spaces.
The month also shows how leadership can move between roles. As a workshop presenter, local co-chair, regional contact, and guest at a cultural gathering, Mesarina gathered ideas and relationships that could inform continued service at home.
