This fall, Victor Organista (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation), Southern Plains Regional Representative on the National UNITY Council Executive Committee, spent the season embodying UNITY’s mission — connecting cultures, strengthening community, and empowering youth leadership across Indian Country. From powwows to fiestas, classrooms to broadcasts, Victor’s month was a vibrant reflection of what it means to honor heritage while serving others.
“I loved being able to attend a Fiesta because it helped me get in touch with all my roots from my Hispanic side,” Victor shared. “I was able to witness the expression of my culture through dance, music, food, clothing, and language.” His schedule was full of powerful community moments, beginning with the Haskell Welcome Back Powwow and the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Veterans Powwow, where he reconnected with family and friends through songs, stories, and dance. Shortly after, he attended the Garden City Fiesta, celebrating the beauty of multicultural identity and unity.
Victor also participated in the Haskell Day of Remembrance, a solemn ceremony honoring children lost to the boarding school and residential school systems. Hosted by Haskell Brave and Miss Haskell, the event featured remembrance songs, prayers, and a sacred fire — a moment of reflection that tied together healing and cultural resilience. Beyond attending community events, Victor has been developing his voice and leadership through media and mentorship. Each week, he works with Good Morning Indian Country, broadcast from the KU School of Journalism, where he helps create weekly reports and is learning the art of sportscasting — using media to highlight the stories and successes of Indigenous communities.
In addition, Victor serves his home community through the Boys and Girls Club of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, where he helps facilitate after-school programs and opens the doors every Sunday for community hours. These efforts are grounded in mentorship and service — ensuring that Native youth have a safe and encouraging place to gather, learn, and grow. Victor also played a key role in helping a new UNITY-affiliated youth group form at North Rock Creek Public Schools, joining them virtually to explain what it means to be part of UNITY and to guide them in creating their own youth council. “Though it was my very first time as an Executive Committee member helping create a club, I found it very inspiring to see the youth wanting to do more to help their community!” he said.
Through partnerships with UNITY staff, Haskell Brave, the Boys and Girls Club, and the Garden City Fiesta Planning Committee, Victor’s efforts demonstrate the power of collaboration and connection. Whether he’s behind the mic, at the drum, or in the classroom, his actions reflect the strength of his roots — and his commitment to uplifting others through unity and cultural pride.
As the Southern Plains Representative on the National UNITY Council Executive Committee, Victor continues to lead with humility and purpose, inspiring Native youth across the region to celebrate their heritage, build bridges between communities, and use their voices to create change. His leadership reminds us that every dance, story, and gathering is an opportunity to connect — and that the spirit of UNITY lives strongest when we come together.