Native Youth Turn Environmental Education into Action at UNITY’s Northeast Earth Ambassadors Gathering

SALAMANCA, N.Y. — Native youth gathered October 10–12, 2026, for UNITY’s first Northeast Earth Ambassadors Regional Gathering, hosted in partnership with the Seneca Nation of Indians. The three-day training brought young leaders together for cultural education, environmental stewardship, leadership development, and community action planning. Led by UNITY Earth Ambassador Trainers Mahiya Ramirez (Muscogee Creek Nation) and Néepa Hyde (Shinnecock Nation), alongside National UNITY Council Executive Committee Co-President Nathan Solorio and Vice President and Northeast Area Representative Kaylee Evans, the gathering emphasized peer-to-peer learning and the importance of Native youth leadership in addressing environmental challenges.

Participants began with a cultural field experience at the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum, where the Learning from the Land activity connected Seneca history and cultural teachings to environmental responsibility. Youth explored the impacts of the Kinzua Dam, Seneca resilience, Black Ash, food sovereignty, and the preservation of traditional knowledge. The experience provided a foundation for UNITY’s Earth Ambassadors curriculum, which examines the relationship between Earth, Fire, Water, and Wind through Indigenous knowledge and environmental education. Participants also identified similarities between Seneca teachings and their own Tribal cultures, strengthening connections across Native communities.

Throughout the gathering, youth worked alongside Earth Ambassador trainers and National UNITY Council representatives to identify environmental concerns affecting their communities. Water protection emerged as a leading priority, with participants developing project ideas focused on waterway restoration, pollution prevention, food and environmental stewardship, and greater youth involvement in Tribal environmental initiatives. The training concluded with youth project presentations, peer feedback, and commitments to continued action. Post-training evaluations showed that participants gained confidence in their leadership abilities and felt better prepared to take meaningful environmental action in their communities. Youth also identified family members, Tribal environmental departments, knowledge holders, and UNITY representatives as resources for continued support, with specific action plans for the next 30 and 90 days.

Expanding Regional Leadership Opportunities

The Northeast Gathering is part of UNITY’s broader effort to bring leadership development opportunities directly to Native youth in regions where access to training and sustained youth council support can be limited. With generous support from the Bezos Family Foundation, UNITY is advancing regional training opportunities designed to strengthen existing youth councils, encourage new grassroots youth leadership initiatives, and expand connections among Native youth across Indian Country. Regional gatherings planned over the next two years will provide additional opportunities for mentorship, civic engagement, cultural education, and community-based action. The Northeast training demonstrated the value of this approach, with participants reporting that smaller group discussions, cultural exchange, and relationships with experienced youth leaders helped them build confidence and identify opportunities to make a difference in their communities.

The Northeast Gathering is part of UNITY’s Earth Ambassadors program, which prepares Native youth to address environmental challenges through Indigenous knowledge, leadership development, and community service. Members of the current Earth Ambassadors cohort, together with former Ambassadors and National UNITY Council leaders, continue to support this work by mentoring emerging leaders and helping translate environmental education into community action. UNITY extends its appreciation to the Seneca Nation Education Departmentfor supporting outreach and to Seneca Gaming Corporation for its generous in-kind contributions, including meeting space, audiovisual support, discounted lodging, and food and beverage assistance. Through continued regional engagement and youth-led environmental projects, UNITY aims to strengthen grassroots leadership and support the next generation of Native environmental advocates.