When crisis hits, leaders don’t hesitate—they act. This November, Liliana Mars of the Narragansett and Diné Nations demonstrated exactly what servant leadership looks like when her community needed it most. As a Northeast Executive Committee Member of the National UNITY Council, Liliana balanced cultural engagement with large-scale community service that directly impacted hundreds of families across New England.
On November 4, she attended the Pequot Veterans Powwow hosted by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum. Powwows are more than gatherings—they are spaces of healing, honor, and intertribal connection. Showing up in these cultural spaces strengthens identity and unity among Native youth.
But the heart of Liliana’s month was service.
On November 1, immediately following the sudden SNAP/EBT shutdown announcement, her tribe’s office phone began flooding with calls from concerned families and elders. Without delay, Liliana and her community sprang into action. Food sourcing began October 28, pulling resources from Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts to prepare emergency food boxes for families in need.
The first distribution box included essential items such as eggs, butter, bread, fruits, vegetables, rice, oats, beans, pasta, canned proteins, soup mixes, peanut butter, and other pantry staples—ensuring families had both meals and snacks during an uncertain time.
Later, on November 23, her tribe hosted a Thanksgiving distribution at the Longhouse. Each family received whole frozen turkeys, fresh produce including onions, carrots, celery, potatoes, squash, sweet potatoes, apples, oranges, cranberries, garlic, as well as stuffing, corn muffin mix, eggs, butter, canned vegetables, and a choice of pie. These weren’t just food boxes—they were dignity boxes, tradition boxes, community care boxes.
Combined, the two distributions served well over 800 people, with remaining items donated to local food pantries—extending support beyond tribal members into surrounding communities.
Reflecting on her journey, Liliana shared, “When I was younger and I saw my mom service the tribe with the food distributions, I never understood the meaning nor how impactful it was.. but now that I’m older and have been able to stand with her and help her, I understand just how much of a powerful impact she had on our community.” She continued, “Truly it’s an honor to be able to give back and serve to a community that’s supported, loved, and been there for me in my toughest times, and for that I will forever step up to the plate as many times as I’m called upon for my community to give back the support they’ve given me all these years.”
Her words reflect generational leadership—learning from elders, stepping forward in crisis, and honoring the responsibility to serve.
Liliana’s work aligns directly with the mission of the National UNITY Council (NUC): to represent Native youth with a unified voice and develop leadership skills rooted in Native heritage and teachings. Through community service, civic responsiveness, and cultural participation, she advances UNITY’s vision to inspire hope and change lives for the better in Indian Country—including Native Hawaiian and Alaskan Native communities across the UNITY network.
The National UNITY Council represents over 300 affiliated youth councils nationwide and serves as the collective voice of Native youth. By studying issues, organizing service projects, and responding to urgent community needs, Native youth leaders like Liliana embody the strength and resilience of Indigenous communities.
As a Northeast Regional Representative on the National UNITY Council Executive Committee, Liliana plays a critical role in elevating youth voices while collaborating with fellow representatives and Co-Presidents to guide national priorities. In moments of crisis and celebration alike, she continues to lead with urgency, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to her people.