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 on the National UNITY Council Executive Committee, Weston traveled to Phoenix, Arizona, from January 16–19 to participate in the UNITY Midyear Conference. One of the highlights of the conference was the Mental Health and Wellness session, where Weston worked directly with youth to develop plans for community-based events that support mental wellness.
During the session, youth teams collaborated to design events they could host in their own communities. The groups learned essential leadership skills such as event planning, coordinating with community members, and seeking support from tribal leaders and potential funders. By the end of the session, each team had developed a proposal, and one group was selected to present their idea on stage. These activities helped Native youth build practical leadership skills while focusing on improving wellness in their communities.
Throughout the conference, Weston also took part in many of the cultural and leadership activities that make UNITY gatherings so meaningful. He enjoyed social dancing and chicken scratch dancing, attended Executive Committee and youth council business meetings, and participated in interactive team-building exercises with fellow youth leaders. One of the lighter moments of the conference came during the UNITY Mock Pageant, where Weston joined the fun alongside other participants.
The evenings brought opportunities for cultural connection, including a round dance where notable singers such as Sooya Bird and fellow UNITY leader Gabriel Loonsfoot helped lead the songs. The following day featured the conference’s general assembly, where speaker Jeremy Arviso shared his story and encouraged youth to continue leading change within their communities. The conference concluded with a closing prayer and friendship circle, symbolizing unity among Native youth from across the country.
Inspired by the experience, Weston shared, “The Midyear Conference gave me an extra push to work harder and take more action in my community.”
After returning home, Weston continued that momentum. On January 24, the MHA Youth Council hosted a healing circle at White Shield High School for youth who had experienced significant loss during the winter season. The gathering created a safe space where students could share their struggles, talk openly about their feelings, and support one another. The circle concluded with prayer, offering comfort and healing to those in attendance.
Weston’s work reflects the mission of the National UNITY Council (NUC): to represent Native youth with a unified voice while developing leadership skills rooted in Native heritage and teachings. Through gatherings like Midyear and community-led healing initiatives, UNITY empowers Native youth—including Native Hawaiian and Alaskan Natives—to take action on the issues affecting their communities.
The National UNITY Council represents more than 300 affiliated youth councils nationwide and provides a forum where Native youth can collaborate, build leadership skills, and create meaningful change. As the Great Plains Regional Representative on the National UNITY Council Executive Committee, Weston continues to elevate youth voices and strengthen the UNITY network. From conference workshops to healing circles at home, his leadership demonstrates that real change begins when Native youth come together with purpose and compassion.
