As summer drew to a close, Co-President of the National UNITY Council Executive Committee, Mazie Countryman (Northern Arapaho, Shoshone, Navajo), still found time to serve her community while preparing for the school year. In Fort Hall, Mazie and her youth council helped organize the parade for the 2025 Shoshone-Bannock Indian Festival, a celebration that brought together families, elders, singers, and dancers to honor tradition and community pride.
Though she described the month as simply “busy,” Mazie’s role reflects UNITY’s mission and the Top Ten Issues Facing Native Youth, especially cultural preservation, civic engagement, and youth empowerment. By helping coordinate such a meaningful event, she showed how youth leadership ensures traditions continue to thrive.
As Co-President of the National UNITY Council, Mazie balances her local service with her national responsibility to represent Native youth across the country. Her story is a reminder that leadership doesn’t always require grand gestures—sometimes it’s about showing up, contributing, and finding ways to serve even in the midst of everyday life.