Watson W. Whitford or Wapanatak (Morning Star) comes from the Dine (Navajo) Nation and is an enrolled member of the Chippewa Cree tribe. Rocky Boy, Montana and Red Mesa, Utah are the places he calls home. Whitford is an alumnus of Navajo Preparatory School and is currently in his second year of studying Environmental Horticulture at Montana State University in Bozeman, MT. Whitford is a proud participant of his cultural ceremonies from both of his tribes. Through song, dance, ceremony, language, and prayer, Whitford has gained skills and values that have led to his history of leadership positions.
Whitford is the newly elected Male Co-President, proudly serving all the UNITY youth across North America. Whitford first joined UNITY as an Earth Ambassador serving from 2021-22. He has also served the youth of the Rocky Mountain Region as the Rocky Mountain Region Representative for the past two years, 2022-24. Whitford is grateful to UNITY for allowing him to serve in these positions, which have provided him with experience in different areas of leadership. UNITY has also encouraged Whitford to explore his love for the Earth, leadership, culture, and much more.
Whitford has the honor of participating in other leadership positions outside of UNITY as well. He currently sits as a member of the Indigenous Youth Leadership Coalition under the Department of State. Whitford has also recently joined the United Nations Association of The United States of America as a member to speak as a global citizen for Indigenous peoples. Whitford would like to encourage Indigenous youth everywhere to never forget who they are, to speak their languages, to practice their ceremonies, and to respect everything. Whitford looks forward to working with Indigenous youth and hopes to represent UNITY with respect and humility.