UNITY

National UNITY Council Adopts Resolution to Restore Balance and End Violence in Native Communities

Phoenix, Arizona — January 19, 2026   During the UNITY Midyear Conference in Phoenix, the National UNITY Council (NUC) officially  adopted a powerful resolution titled “Restoring Balance: Healing Trauma & Ending Violence in Native  Communities.”Approved at the National UNITY Council Business Meeting with a quorum present, the resolution establishes a unified, youth-driven framework to address some […]

UNITY Awards Program: Honoring Leadership, Legacy, and Youth Power

2026 National UNITY Conference | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma For nearly five decades, United National Indian Tribal Youth (UNITY) has uplifted individuals and youth councils whose leadership strengthens Native youth, families, and communities across Indian Country. As part of the 2026 National UNITY Conference—a historic gathering marking UNITY’s 50th Anniversary —we are proud to honor exceptional […]

Celebrating Youth Leadership: National UNITY Council Business Meeting (30-Day Notice)

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] The National UNITY Council (NUC) continues to move forward because of the leadership, commitment, and impact of UNITY Youth Councils across the country. As we prepare for the upcoming UNITY Midyear Conference, the NUC Executive Committee is pleased to share this 30-day notice of items that will be presented for review and action […]

Answering the Call: Liliana Mars Leads with Heart in New England

When crisis hits, leaders don’t hesitate—they act. This November, Liliana Mars of the Narragansett and Diné Nations demonstrated exactly what servant leadership looks like when her community needed it most. As a Northeast Executive Committee Member of the National UNITY Council, Liliana balanced cultural engagement with large-scale community service that directly impacted hundreds of families […]

From Powwow Grounds to Community Action: Liliana Mars Answers the Call

When challenges arise in Native communities, leaders step forward—and this fall, Liliana Mars (Narragansett, Navajo), Executive Committee Member for the Northeast, did exactly that. Balancing cultural connection, regional leadership, and urgent community response, Liliana’s work reflected the heart of servant leadership rooted in responsibility, compassion, and action. Liliana began the season by attending the Chumash […]

From the Arena to the Aisles: Liliana Mars Takes Action for Food Security in Her Community

Liliana Mars (Narragansett, Navajo), Northeast Regional Representative on the National UNITY Council Executive Committee, showed how leadership can move seamlessly between celebration and service. Between traveling to powwows, joining regional UNITY meetups, and mobilizing her community for a large-scale food distribution effort, Liliana balanced cultural pride with urgent action — proving that leadership means showing […]

A Trail of Gratitude: Liliana Mars Honors Her Reign Across California’s Powwow Trail

This fall, Liliana Mars (Narragansett, Navajo), Northeast Regional Representative on the National UNITY Council Executive Committee, journeyed far from home to close a chapter that carried deep personal meaning — her reign as Miss Sycuan Powwow Princess. Traveling cross-country from her home community to California, Liliana spent the season dancing, singing, and connecting with countless […]

Where Tradition Meets Tomorrow: UNITY Earth Ambassadors Gather in the Southeast

This past week, UNITY Earth Ambassadors gathered in Ft Lauderdale, Florida, for a transformative experience that blended Traditional Ecological Knowledge with modern conservation science. Together, Native youth explored how Indigenous values and contemporary strategies can work hand-in-hand to guide the protection and restoration of our homelands. Opening Day – Platforms for Environmental Justice The gathering […]

Dancing for Healing, Leading for Change in the Northeast

When Liliana Mars (Narragansett, Navajo) steps into the circle, she is doing far more than moving to the beat of the drum—she is carrying generations of resilience and responsibility as both a cultural leader and the Northeast Regional Representative and Secretary of the National UNITY Council Executive Committee (NUCEC). This past August, her calendar was […]

Seeds, Smoke, and Water Songs: Néepa Hyde Proves Change Can Start at Any Age

The scent of smoke hung heavy in Minnesota this August, a reminder of how climate change impacts every corner of our lives—even in the cornfields, where young leaders bent to pull weeds. For Shinnecock and Onondaga Earth Ambassador Néepa Hyde, the month was her busiest yet, filled with hands-on lessons in food sovereignty, cultural teachings, […]