This Fall, UNITY Earth Ambassador Nizhoni Deschene (Navajo Nation, Turtle Mountain Chippewa) began a new chapter at the University of California, Berkeley, stepping into his role as the Director of Indigenous and Native Advocacy in the ASUC Senate office. His leadership is already shaping initiatives that prioritize Native student representation and cultural visibility. “We are […]
Jada Allen (Lumbee Tribe) is tackling one of the most pressing challenges facing Native communities—climate-driven natural disasters. Through her Earth Ambassador platform, she is creating workshops for Lumbee and other Native youth in North Carolina that focus on disaster preparedness and resilience. “Participants would learn how to create emergency plans, assemble disaster kits, and develop […]
At the National UNITY Council (NUC) Business Meeting on June 30, 2025, during the National UNITY Conference in San Diego, California, more than 130 Native youth leaders representing over 60 affiliated youth councils across 23 states gathered to identify the most urgent challenges facing their peers and communities. Guided by both regional discussions and survey […]
Early August found Earth Ambassador Laylalanai Gocobachi at the UC Berkeley Indigenous Mini-Camp, where she joined peers and Mountain Maidu knowledge keepers to learn about Indigenous stewardship, LAND BACK, and TEK. The camp offered both lessons and community, reminding her of the strength of shared space and stories. She also attended Native American Heritage Night […]
When Earth Ambassador Laylalanai Gocobachi returned from the UNITY Conference, she didn’t slow down—in fact, she sped up. Within days, she was developing workshops, meeting with local leaders, and hosting hands-on activities that wove together environmental education, cultural preservation, and youth leadership. Her July became a powerful example of how one committed leader can inspire […]
This month, UNITY Earth Ambassador Codie Horse-Topetchy, Kiowa, Comanche, and Otoe-Missouria, spent a transformative week at the Native Youth in Food and Agriculture Leadership Summit hosted by the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative at the University of Arkansas Law School. Selected for the Animal Science track, she immersed herself in workshops and field trips that […]
This July, McKaylin Peters of the Menominee Nation embodied the spirit of leadership and community engagement through a month filled with cultural representation, athletic mentorship, and civic involvement. One of her proudest moments came at the UNITY Conference in San Diego, where the Menominee Youth Council attended for the very first time. Formed in February, […]
This July, UNITY Earth Ambassador Nizhoni Deschene, Navajo and Turtle Mountain Chippewa, dedicated his efforts to bridging the gap between Indigenous knowledge, financial literacy, and authentic youth leadership. Continuing his internship at Tallsalt Advisors, a Native-led investment advisory firm, he took on key responsibilities that advanced both internal operations and client-facing initiatives. From compiling detailed […]
This summer, Earth Ambassador Jada Allen of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina demonstrated what it means to blend cultural pride, civic engagement, and environmental advocacy into a season of meaningful action. On June 20th, she presented two workshops at the North Carolina Native Youth Organization’s annual conference, reaching around 70 Native youth with her […]
Featuring Earth Ambassador: Néepa Hyde (Shinnecock & Onondaga, Midwest Region) Fresh off the 2025 National UNITY Conference, Néepa Hyde wasted no time putting her leadership into action. Just one week later, she began working with Dream of Wild Health’s Garden Warriors program in Hugo, Minnesota—a life-changing experience that deepened her connection to land, language, and […]
