Sage Lacapa, UNITY Earth Ambassador has taken action and stepped into leadership roles since the National UNITY Conference. Sage Lacapa encourages with his quote. “Why wait for the future to create positive change when you can do it now! We, the youth have had so many opportunities these past six months, not for recognition, but for the leadership roles we uphold.”
Sage has been elected the Male Co-president of the White Mountain Apache Tribal Youth Council (WMATYC). When his youth Council returned from UNITY, they discussed their upcoming events for the next four quarters of school. They walked through their annual White Mountain Apache Tribal Fair and Rodeo Parade while wearing red to spread the awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women #MMIW.
They served as presenters of a youth summit in one of their tribe’s communities. The WMATYC takes part in the, ‘Leave No Trace’ Club at their school. They have many events planned for the future which will spread the idea of environmental awareness and preservation. Sage has stepped into more leadership roles, stating, “This year I have been elected as president of two clubs at Achesay High School for Family, Career and Community Leaders of America ( FCCLA) and Class of 2021. I also emceed the Junior Miss White Mountain Apache pageant.”
Earth Ambassadors plan to work with the National UNITY Council Executive Committee and Representatives to campaign for environmental projects for Earth Day 2020. EAs are reaching out to elders in their communities to learn teachings about caring for indigenous resources. They plan to develop an initiative to encourage UNITY youth to approach elders and tribal leaders to carry forward traditional ways. Plans are in place to host Webinars in the near future.
UNITY hopes that the EAs will attend the 2020 Midyear and another environmental excursion. UNITY is seeking a sponsor for the 2019-2020 Earth Ambassador program. For more information contact Tami Patterson at t.patterson@unityinc.org