Amaya Escalante stepped into April with courage, purpose, and a clear reminder that Native youth leadership carries responsibility. Whether speaking out for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People, emceeing UNITY’s 50th Anniversary Block Party, or competing at the Gathering of Nations Co-ed Softball Tournament, Amaya represented her people, her community, and the UNITY movement with pride. […]
Tia Butler’s month was rooted in intention. Whether preparing plant starts for Tribal and community members through the Siletz Food Sovereignty Program or visiting Indigenous-centered museum exhibits in the San Francisco Bay Area, Tia spent her time learning, reflecting, and giving back. Her leadership shows how Native youth can nurture community wellness through food sovereignty, […]
Victor Organista’s April was filled with the kind of leadership that meets people where they are: at the ballpark, in after-school programs, on community roadsides, and in everyday moments of connection. As a Southern Plains Executive Committee member, Victor continued showing up for Native youth, adults, and elders through mentorship, recreation, environmental service, and community […]
For Rhiannon Eaglespeaker, April was about connection—visiting with relatives, talking with youth and families, and building excitement for Native youth to experience UNITY’s national programs. While attending the Kyiyo Pow Wow in Missoula, Montana, Rhiannon used the gathering as an opportunity to share UNITY’s mission, answer questions, and encourage youth to take part in the […]
After a difficult season for her family, Liliana Mars stepped back into community with courage, care, and honesty. Her April was filled with powwows, Earth Day planning, regional youth outreach, and the joy of welcoming her baby sister home from the hospital. As a Northeast Executive Committee member, Liliana showed that Native youth leadership is […]
Watson Whitford’s April leadership carried him from Bozeman to Farmington, from Montana to Ontario, and across relationships that remind us Indigenous kinship is bigger than any border. As the National UNITY Council Executive Committee Male Co-President, Watson continued his education at Montana State University, served through the American Indian Council and Buffalo Nations, invited Native […]
When more than 100 Indigenous youth gathered in Utah for a weekend centered on faith, culture, education, and the future, Mazie Countryman stepped into the room with a message rooted in experience: Native youth leadership matters now. As a National UNITY Council Executive Committee Co-President, Mazie helped young people see that their voices, choices, and […]
Rhiannon Eaglespeaker’s month was filled with movement, connection, and cultural pride. From speaking with youth councils across Montana and North Dakota to attending the Denver March Powwow and the Montana State University American Indian Council Powwow in Bozeman, she used each gathering as an opportunity to represent UNITY, build relationships, and remind Native youth that […]
For Tia Butler, March was a month of healing, connection, and purpose. Through round dances, youth wellness spaces, environmental law conversations, and Tribal food sovereignty work, Tia continued to grow as a Native youth leader rooted in community care and future-focused advocacy. Her leadership shows how healing and justice can move together—through ceremony, relationships, education, […]
For Weston, leadership this month meant learning with his hands, listening with respect, and stepping out of his comfort zone to speak for something bigger than himself. From participating in a buffalo harvest with students across the MHA Nation to representing UNITY at the Reservation Economic Summit in Las Vegas, Weston’s month reflected the power […]
