The 2025 National UNITY Conference, in San Diego, CA, began with a powerful call to action during Native Youth Empowerment Night, where the National UNITY Council (NUC) Executive Committee welcomed peers from across the country into a greater collective of Indigenous leadership. Far beyond an icebreaker session, this evening exemplified the core values of the […]
Jamie Crowe, 19 Tribe: Pueblo of Tesuque Youth Council: Tesuque Pueblo Youth Coalition Jamie Crowe, a proud member of the Pueblo of Tesuque, is a 22-year-old student at the University of New Mexico where she studies Population Health and minors in Maternal and Child Health. With aspirations to pursue a master’s degree in Public Health […]
Ethan Hedgepeth, 19 Tribe: Cherokee, Tuscarora Youth Council: NCNAYO Ethan Hedgepeth, a proud member of the Cherokee and Tuscarora Nations, is a dedicated student currently attending East Carolina University. He is pursuing a degree in exercise science with the goal of becoming a physical therapist. Passionate about helping others heal and thrive, Ethan’s career path […]
Rhiannon Eaglespeaker, 18 Tribe: Blackfoot, Kiowa Youth Council: BTSC(Billings student tribal council) Rhiannon EagleSpeaker/WhiteShield, 18, is a proud member of the Kainai (Blackfoot/Blood), Kiowa, Arapaho, and Southern Cheyenne tribes. Enrolled with the Blackfoot in both the United States and Canada, Rhiannon was born in Browning, Montana, and holds dual citizenship in both countries. She is […]
Liliana Mars, 18 Tribe: Narragansett, Navajo Individual Member Liliana Mars, 18, is an enrolled member of the Narragansett Tribe of Charlestown, Rhode Island, and a descendant of the Navajo Nation of New Mexico. As she prepares to graduate from Acellus Academy with a 4.0 GPA, Liliana looks ahead to the fall, where she will begin […]
Weston Bird, 16 Tribe: MHA Mandan Hidatsa Arikara Youth Council: MHA Youth Leadership Council Weston Louis Bird, a 16-year-old student from White Shield, North Dakota, is a proud member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara (MHA) Nation. Currently a junior at White Shield High School, Weston has earned high honors through dedication to his academics […]
Jovi Williams, 20 Tribe: White Mountain Apache Tribe Individual Member Jovi, a 20-year-old member of the White Mountain Apache Tribe, resides in the community of Dishchii’bikoh on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation in Arizona. Born from the Dzil T’adn (Mountain Based People) to the Sai Yagaidn (White Sands People), Jovi has emerged as a dedicated […]
Jizelle Juan, 18 Tribe: Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Youth Council: Young River Peoples Council Jizelle Juan, an 18-year-old from the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, is a passionate advocate for Indigenous youth and a rising leader in both her tribal nation and professional aspirations. A recent graduate of Mountain View High School and the […]
Amaya Escalante, 19 Tribe: Pascua Yaqui Tribe Individual Member Amaya Escalante, a proud member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, is a dedicated youth leader from Old Pascua Village in Tucson, Arizona. At just nineteen years old, she has already established herself as a passionate advocate for cultural preservation, youth empowerment, and community service. The eldest […]
Evelyn Enos, 20 Tribe: Gila River Indian Community Youth Council: Akimel O’odham/ Pee-Posh Youth Council Evelyn Enos, a member of the Gila River Indian Community, currently serves as the President of the Akimel O’odham/Pee-Posh Youth Council, a group she has been actively involved with since 2019. She is a junior at Arizona State University, pursuing […]
