For Watson Whitford, February was a month centered on community, ceremony, and connecting with Indigenous youth across borders. As Male Co-President of the National UNITY Council Executive Committee and a student leader at Montana State University, Watson continued to support gatherings that strengthen relationships among Indigenous communities.
Early in the month, the Montana State University American Indian Council hosted a Valentine’s Day Round Dance in Bozeman, Montana. The event brought together students, local community members, and relatives from across the state to celebrate culture through song and dance.
Watson played an important role in helping organize and guide the evening as the stickman, a responsibility that involves coordinating the flow of the round dance and inviting singers to share their songs for the dancers. Through this role, he helped ensure the event ran smoothly while creating a welcoming space for everyone gathered.
The round dance served as an opportunity for people from different communities to come together, reconnect, and share time with one another in a cultural setting centered around respect and tradition.
Later in the month, Watson traveled to Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, where he was invited to attend the Running Strong Piapot Youth Forum hosted by the Piapot First Nation. The forum brought together Indigenous youth leaders to discuss community initiatives, leadership, and the challenges facing young people today.
During the gathering, Watson had the opportunity to learn about the work youth in Canada are doing within their communities while also sharing his own experiences in leadership. He encouraged participants to stay engaged and continue building strong youth-led initiatives.
He also extended an invitation for the youth he met to attend upcoming UNITY conferences, creating opportunities for continued collaboration and connection between Indigenous youth in the United States and Canada.
While in Canada, Watson attended several additional round dances and was asked to offer a prayer at one of the gatherings. He was inspired by the level of participation he observed among young people involved in ceremony and community leadership.
“I appreciate how involved their young people are in ceremony,” Watson shared. “This has been the main kind of leadership that I have observed while in Canada.”
Reflecting on the month’s experiences, Watson emphasized the importance of building relationships across Indigenous communities. “Connecting with relatives everywhere and making community is going to get us through any challenges we face.”
Through cultural gatherings, leadership forums, and cross-border connections, Watson continues to represent the mission of UNITY by uplifting Indigenous youth leadership and strengthening the bonds between Native communities throughout North America.