This month, McKaylin Peters stepped fully into her role as a leader, organizer, and bridge-builder within her community. As a Co-Founder and Advisor of the Menominee UNITY Youth Council, she helped guide the next generation of leaders through elections at the start of the school year, ensuring the council remains active, engaged, and youth-driven. Weekly […]
This September, Vydell Willie balanced school, personal milestones, and leadership growth while continuing to deepen his role as a UNITY Earth Ambassador. At the 17th Biennial Conference of Science & Management held at Northern Arizona University, Vydell joined students, community members, and environmental leaders to explore the intersection of Indigenous knowledge and modern science. The […]
This September, Mahiya Ramirez stepped into a powerful leadership role as she helped facilitate the Southeast Regional Earth Ambassador Gathering in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Bringing together Native youth from across the region, the gathering created space for connection, learning, and collective growth. “Youth traveled from across the Southeast region to connect, network, and strengthen their […]
This September, Laylalanai Gocobachi moved with purpose across her community—showing up as a leader, storyteller, and connector. From volunteering at the Pascua Yaqui Tribe Charitable Organization’s annual golf tournament to speaking at the YOEME Youth Council inauguration, she brought encouragement and visibility to Native youth spaces. “Seeing how passionate and driven our youth are gives […]
Happy Earth Month! As communities around the world come together to recognize Earth Day, Native youth are stepping forward with powerful voices, rooted in tradition and driven by purpose. The United National Indian Tribal Youth, Inc. (UNITY) Earth Ambassadors invite you to be part of this important movement during the upcoming UNITY Earth Day Webinar: […]
January marked an important time of transition and growth for Vydell Willie of the Navajo Nation, a UNITY Earth Ambassador in the Western Region. As the new year began, Vydell stepped into a new academic semester at Northern Arizona University while continuing to stay active in leadership and personal development. At the beginning of the […]
UNITY is proud to recognize Hector Tigertail Alicea as an Honorary UNITY Earth Ambassador for the 2025–2026 Cohort, honoring his exceptional leadership, cultural grounding, and commitment to environmental stewardship. A citizen of the Miccosukee Tribe of Florida, Hector made a lasting impact on the UNITY Earth Ambassadors during the UNITY Southeast Regional Gathering held in […]
Sometimes leadership looks like standing at a podium. Other times, it looks like standing shoulder to shoulder with your community under glowing holiday lights. This December, Amaya Escalante of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe chose the second—showing that unity begins at home. As a Western Region Executive Committee member of the National UNITY Council, Amaya spent […]
From December 5–7, UNITY Earth Ambassadors from across the Pacific Region gathered in Hawaiʻi for a powerful weekend rooted in connection, culture, and action. The gathering centered youth leadership, ancestral knowledge, and a shared commitment to mālama ʻāina—caring for the land—for generations to come. In attendance were UNITY Earth Ambassadors McKaylin Peters (Menominee Indian Tribe, […]
From the mainland to the islands, Native youth are building bridges rooted in culture and care for Mother Earth. This December, Alina Sanchez of the Miwok Wilton Rancheria brought the Pacific Region together in a powerful way at the UNITY Pacific Region Earth Ambassador Gathering in Hawai’i. Serving as the Pacific Region Representative on the […]
