For Ethan Hedgepeth, Cherokee and Tuscarora and Southeast Representative on the National UNITY Council Executive Committee, leadership came full circle this month. From attending a regional meeting at East Carolina University to sharing UNITY with Native youth and families at the Haliwa-Saponi Powwow in Hollister, North Carolina, Ethan used his voice to strengthen connections, encourage involvement, and represent Native youth leadership in the Southeast Region.
Ethan attended the ECUNAO meeting at East Carolina University, where he continued his work as a youth leader representing the Southeast Region. Meetings like this create space for Native students, youth leaders, and community members to connect around shared goals, opportunities, and concerns affecting Native communities. Through his participation, Ethan helped carry forward the mission of the National UNITY Council, which encourages Native youth to study common concerns, speak with a positive and unified voice, and build leadership skills rooted in Native heritage and teachings. His presence at the meeting reflected the importance of showing up, listening, and staying connected to community conversations.
Ethan also attended the Haliwa-Saponi Powwow in Hollister, North Carolina, where he spoke with Native youth and parents about UNITY. The powwow offered a meaningful setting for outreach because it brought together families, youth, elders, and community members in a place grounded in culture, celebration, and connection.
For Ethan, this opportunity was especially personal. “It meant a lot to me to be able to share about UNITY at my local powwow because a lot of people there seen me grow up and influence me,” he shared.
That reflection shows the heart of servant leadership. Ethan was not simply promoting a program; he was returning to a community that helped shape him and offering information, encouragement, and opportunity back to the next generation of Native youth.
By speaking with Native youth and parents at the powwow, Ethan helped expand awareness of UNITY’s national network and the opportunities available through youth councils, leadership development, service projects, and national gatherings. His outreach also helped families better understand how Native youth can become involved in spaces that uplift their voices and support their growth. This kind of relationship-based outreach is powerful because it is built on trust. Ethan’s community watched him grow, and now they are seeing him step into leadership as a role model for other Native youth. That full-circle moment carries a strong message: Native youth leadership begins at home, grows through community, and reaches across Indian Country.
As Southeast Representative, Ethan plays an important role in connecting Native youth in his region to the larger National UNITY Council network. His work helps ensure that Native youth from urban, rural, and tribal communities have opportunities to be heard, supported, and encouraged to lead.
The National UNITY Council serves as a guiding body for Native youth councils and individual members, providing a forum where youth can discuss issues, set priorities, learn parliamentary procedure, promote the UNITY network, and represent Native youth voices on matters of concern. Ethan’s outreach at the Haliwa-Saponi Powwow supports this mission by helping more Native youth and families learn how they can be part of that collective voice.
Ethan Hedgepeth’s month reflected the power of presence. By attending the ECUNAO meeting and sharing UNITY at his local powwow, he demonstrated leadership through visibility, service, and community connection. His work helped uplift Native youth, strengthen regional engagement, and continue UNITY’s mission to inspire hope and change lives for the better in Indian Country.
As a member of the National UNITY Council Executive Committee, Ethan represents more than his title. He represents the responsibility to serve as a bridge between local communities and the national Native youth network. Through his role as Southeast Representative, he continues to help Native youth see themselves as leaders, advocates, and changemakers within their communities and beyond.