Rhiannon Eaglespeaker’s month was filled with movement, connection, and cultural pride. From speaking with youth councils across Montana and North Dakota to attending the Denver March Powwow and the Montana State University American Indian Council Powwow in Bozeman, she used each gathering as an opportunity to represent UNITY, build relationships, and remind Native youth that they are part of a larger circle of leadership.
As the Rocky Mountain Region Representative, Rhiannon’s outreach reflects the heart of the National UNITY Council: bringing Native youth together with a positive and unified voice.
Rhiannon participated in a RISE meeting that brought together many youth councils from Montana and some from North Dakota. During the meeting, she talked with youth about UNITY and listened as they shared how they wanted to get involved. The RISE Native Youth Leadership group was created to support connection among Native students and continues to focus on leadership development, relationship-building, and connection to personal culture and heritage. For Rhiannon, this meeting was a meaningful outreach opportunity. By sharing UNITY’s mission and answering questions from youth councils, she helped open pathways for more Native youth to connect with the National UNITY Council network.
Rhiannon also attended the Denver March Powwow, a major intertribal gathering in Colorado. The 50th annual Denver March Powwow took place in March at the Denver Coliseum, bringing together dancers, singers, royalty, families, and community members from many Tribal Nations.
Although the trip was last minute, Rhiannon described it as a fun and meaningful experience. She was invited to the Princess Brunch and had the opportunity to meet royalty from different regions and tribes, including the newly crowned Denver March Powwow Princess. The Denver March Powwow listed Olivia Jean Old Coyote as the 2026 Denver March Princess. Through those conversations, Rhiannon experienced the power of cultural representation and young Indigenous women serving as visible leaders for their communities.
Rhiannon also attended the 50th annual American Indian Council Powwow at Montana State University in Bozeman. The powwow was held at MSU’s Brick Breeden Fieldhouse and marked a major milestone for the American Indian Council. For Rhiannon, the Bozeman powwow was especially meaningful because she was able to see family and support National UNITY Council Co-President Watson Whitford as he helped run the event with his council. Her experience showed the strength of Native youth leadership in action—planning, hosting, dancing, visiting, and bringing community together.
Reflecting on her month, Rhiannon shared, “Getting the opportunity to talk to youth from all different areas has to be the most rewarding thing to experience.”
Her words show the heart behind her leadership. For Rhiannon, outreach is not just about giving information. It is about relationship-building. It is about listening, encouraging, and helping other Native youth see that they have a place in UNITY’s national network.
Rhiannon’s work reflects the mission of the National UNITY Council, which brings together Native youth, Native Hawaiian youth, and Alaskan Native youth to study common concerns, strengthen leadership skills, and speak with a positive and unified voice. Through youth council outreach, cultural gatherings, and regional representation, she is helping inspire hope and change lives for the better in Indian Country.
As the Rocky Mountain Region Representative on the National UNITY Council Executive Committee, Rhiannon Eaglespeaker plays an important role in representing youth voices from her region while helping strengthen UNITY’s national network. Her month of service shows that leadership can begin with one conversation, one powwow, one meeting, and one invitation for Native youth to step into the circle.
