This fall, Pacific Region Representative Alina Sanchez (Miwok – Wilton Rancheria) has been busy creating spaces where Native youth and community voices can thrive. From student government leadership to cultural representation and wellness advocacy, Alina continues to show how youth leaders can weave service, identity, and collaboration together to create lasting impact.
On September 19, Alina attended a lunch with the auxiliary bishop of the Sacramento Diocese, representing her role as President of the Student Government Executive Team. Joined by student leaders from Saint Francis, Jesuit, Christian Brothers, and Saint Patrick’s High School, the gathering was an opportunity to network and share experiences across schools. “I truly enjoy coming together with others to share ideas, gather, and connect. It’s important to recognize the advocacy and work that others have been doing, and this was the perfect opportunity to do so,” she reflected. For Alina, moments like this reinforce UNITY’s commitment to civic engagement and strengthening youth leadership networks.
A few days later, on September 23, she participated in the Native Sisters Circle Workshop on mental health, where she learned the importance of budgeting and took part in making self-care tools like essential-oil shower bombs. “I love collaborating with others to demonstrate the importance of self care!! I believe your mental health is so important, taking care of it is the first & most important step,” Alina shared. This focus on wellness connects directly to UNITY’s Top Ten Issues Facing Native Youth, showing how Indigenous practices and modern approaches can blend to support mental health.
Alina closed out the month with cultural pride, representing Wilton Rancheria at her high school’s Multicultural Fair on September 25. Alongside her sister Alyssa, she showcased traditional instruments such as a drum, turtle rattle, and clapper stick, as well as moccasins, jewelry, cultural skirts, and games. The booth also featured a poster highlighting Wilton Rancheria history, advocacy, and facts about their people. “I seek every opportunity to represent my community and culture on campus. The multicultural fair was just the beginning. I hope to find many other opportunities throughout this school year to continue to represent my people,” she explained. By making culture visible in everyday school settings, Alina strengthens identity and educates peers—directly addressing UNITY’s focus on cultural preservation.
Together, these experiences show the many dimensions of leadership: building relationships with other schools, uplifting wellness through self-care, and proudly carrying forward cultural traditions. Each role reflects UNITY’s vision of empowering Native youth to lead in ways that honor their heritage while addressing modern challenges.
As Pacific Region Representative, Alina’s leadership goes beyond her own community. She represents Native youth across the region within the National UNITY Council, a network of over 300 youth councils nationwide that adopts the Top Ten Issues Facing Native Youth each year to guide collective action. By balancing cultural advocacy, civic engagement, and mental health awareness, Alina demonstrates how young leaders can respond to these issues with creativity and courage.
Her journey this fall serves as an invitation for other Native youth: get involved, start a project, or represent your culture on your own campus. As Alina shows, leadership doesn’t have to wait—it grows stronger every time you step up, speak out, and celebrate who you are.