UNITY

Marla Mesarina, Co-President

Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe & Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate

CONTACT:
National UNITY Council Executive Committee
Email: fcopresident@unityinc.org

Marla Mesarina is from the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and is an enrolled member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate. She is currently a junior at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, where she is pursuing a double major in Nutrition Science and the Ojibwe Language.

Marla has served for two years as the Midwest Regional Representative on the National UNITY Executive Committeeand was selected as a 2025–2026 Earth Ambassador. Through these leadership roles, she has advocated for Native youth, environmental stewardship, and Indigenous representation at the national level.

Passionate about language revitalization, Marla is a member of the National Native American Language Resource Center’s Next Gen Cohort 1, where she works to strengthen and promote Indigenous languages. She also participates in the Nisookamig Ojibwe Language Apprenticeship Program, dedicating herself to learning and preserving the Ojibwe language for future generations.

Marla is committed to serving her communities through leadership, cultural revitalization, and empowering Native youth to create positive change while honoring their identities, languages, and traditions

Nathan Solorio, Co-President

Brokenhead Ojibway Nation & Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation

CONTACT:
National UNITY Council Executive Committee
Email: mcopresident@unityinc.org

Nathan Solorio, 19, is a proud member of Baaskaandibewiziibing (Brokenhead Ojibway Nation) and Okweanashkoziibiing (Roseau River Anishinabe Firsr Nation) in Manitoba Canada. He currently lives and works in Mechanicsburg Pennsylvania, while remaining connected to his communities back home.

In June 2026, Nathan graduated from Central Penn College in Medical Assisting and Associated Programs. Whether through healthcare or leadership, Nathan strives to make a meaningful impact by leading with compassion, respect, and integrity.

Nathan’s journey with UNITY began in 2022 in Minneapolis Minnesota where he was recognized as a UNITY 25 Under 25 honoree. During the same conference, he was elected as Northeast Representative, serving Native youth from 2022 to 2024. Throughout his term, he worked to build relationships with native youth, encourage greater participation in the Northeast region, and represent the voices of young people across the Northeast Region.

After completing his term, Nathan stepped away from leadership for a year to focus on his education and successfully earn his college degree. That time allowed him to grow personally and professionally while preparing for the next chapter of his leadership journey. With new experiences, a stronger sense of purpose, and renewed motivation, Nathan returned ready to serve as Male Co-President, believing he could accomplish even more by building on the experience he gained during his first term. 

Nathan is excited to work alongside the newly elected Executive Committee and continue creating opportunities for native youth across turtle island. He believes that the negativity or poor behavior of others should never discourage someone from pursuing their goals of serving their communities. Nathan hopes to lead by example, encouraging native youth to stay true to themselves, keeping moving forward, and never let anyone stand in the way of the difference they are capable of making.

National UNITY Council EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Members of each UNITY-affiliated youth council appoint two individuals (one young woman, one young man) to serve as their representatives on the National UNITY Council (NUC). Native youth throughout the United States, who are UNITY affiliates, elect individuals to serve as Area Representatives on the National UNITY Council Executive Committee. The ten geographical areas are as follows: Great Plains, Midwest, Northeast, Northwest, Pacific, Rocky Mountain, Southeast, Southern Plains, Southwest, and Western. Two youth leaders (one young man, one young woman) are elected by the NUC membership each year to serve as National UNITY Council Co-Presidents.
Past National UNITY Council CoPresidents
2020-CURRENT
  • 2020-2021
    • Kiera Toya Jemez Pueblo
    • Robert “Scottie” Miller Swinomish
  • 2021-2022
    • Audriana Mitchell Colorado River Indian Tribes
    • Izaiah Fisher Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
  • 2022-2023
    • Chenoa Scippio Santa Clara Pueblo
    • Colby White Thunder Alabama Coushatta
  • 2023-2024
    • Kaytlynn Johnston Bishop Paiute Tribe
    • Jonathan Arakawa Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe
  • 2024-2025
    • Kaytlynn Johnston Bishop Paiute Tribe
    • Watson Whitford Chippewa Cree, Navajo
  • 2025-2026
    • Mazie Countryman Northern Arapaho, Eastern Shoshone, Shoshone-Bannock, Navajo
    • Watson Whitford Chippewa Cree, Navajo
  • 2010-2011
    • J’Shon Lee White Mountain Apache
    • Victor Fuentez Muscogee Creek Nation
  • 2011-2012
    • Amira Madison Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head
    • Jared Massey White Mountain Apache
  • 2012-2013
    • Amira Madison Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head
    • Jared Massey White Mountain Apache
  • 2013-2014
    • Dominique Lombardi Morongo Band of Mission Indians
    • Nataanii Hatathlie Navajo Nation
  • 2014-2015
    • Sarah Scott Lummi Nation
    • Brian Weeden Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe
  • 2015-2016
    • Sassamin Weeden Mashpee Wampanoag
    • Brian Weeden Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe
  • 2016-2017
    • Sarah Scott Lummi Nation
    • Hamilton Seymour Nooksack
  • 2017-2018
    • Sophie Tiger Commanche
    • Hamilton Seymour Nooksack
  • 2018-2019
    • SuSun Fisher Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
    • Joseph Davis Gila River Indian Community
  • 2019-2020
    • Brittany McKane Muscogee Creek Nation
    • Robert “Scottie” Miller Swinomish
  • 2000-2001
    • LeAndra Bitsie Navajo Nation
    • Michael Preston Gila River Indian Community
  • 2001-2002
    • LeAndra Bitsie Navajo Nation
    • Darren Pedro Gila River Indian Community
  • 2002-2003
    • Kristy Dayson Little Traverse Bay Bands Of Odawa Indians
    • Daniel “Dan” Terrio Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians
  • 2003-2004
    • Mary Smith Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
    • Lee Baltazar Pascua Yaqui Tribe
  • 2004-2005
    • Misty Airington Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
    • Daniel “Dan” Terrio Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians
  • 2005-2006
    • Latisha Stick Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma
    • Sherman Billie Mississippi Band of Choctaw
  • 2006-2007
    • Hannah Ward Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians
    • Matthias Lupe White Mountain Apache
  • 2007-2008
    • Kelsey Leonard Shinnecock Nation
    • Joshua Tso Navajo Nation
  • 2008-2009
    • Juanita Toledo Jemez Pueblo
    • Joshua Tso Navajo Nation
  • 2009-2010
    • J’Shon Lee White Mountain Apache
    • Victor Fuentez Muscogee Creek Nation
  • 1992-1993
    • Lovina Louie Coeur d’Alene/ Okanagan & Lakes Band of the Colville Confederated Tribes
    • Joseph Brown Thunder Ho-Chunk Nation/Oglala Lakota Nation
  • 1993-1994
    • Toni Edwards Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
    • Joseph Brown Thunder Ho-Chunk Nation/Oglala Lakota Nation
  • 1994-1995
    • Pearl Yellowman Navajo Nation
    • Leslie Caye Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes
  • 1995-1996
    • Pearl Yellowman Navajo Nation
    • Leslie Caye Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes
  • 1996-1997
    • Sharon Watson Navajo Nation
    • Leslie Caye Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes
  • 1997-1998
    • Laura Morningstar Winder Seneca Nation
    • Michael Killer Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma
  • 1998-1999
    • Katharine Factor Kiowa
    • Manny Lasiloo Gila River Indian Community
  • 1999-2000
    • Wilpita Bia Navajo Nation
    • Leonard Kisto