Mahiya Ramirez of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Named 2025 UNITY Earth Ambassador
UNITY is proud to announce Mahiya Ramirez, a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation of Oklahoma, as one of its 2025 Earth Ambassadors. Representing the Southern Plains Region, Mahiya is a passionate and visionary youth leader whose dedication to environmental sustainability is deeply rooted in her cultural heritage and commitment to community empowerment.
“Being an Earth Ambassador means taking on the responsibility for the health and well-being of our Mother Earth,” Mahiya shared. “It’s about leading by example, encouraging sustainable practices, and helping our people reconnect with the land.”
A senior at the University of Central Oklahoma, majoring in Mass Communication with a focus in Photographic Arts, Mahiya has spent years cultivating her voice as an advocate for both Indigenous sovereignty and environmental justice. Her leadership began in 2017 as a member of the Mvskoke Nation Youth Council and has since grown to include her role as Vice President and Southern Plains Representative on the National UNITY Council Executive Committee.
Mahiya’s connection to the land was influenced by her upbringing in Oklahoma, where she saw firsthand the environmental toll of pollution and overconsumption. These experiences shaped her understanding of stewardship—not only as a spiritual responsibility, but as a cultural and practical obligation to future generations.
Her platform project, titled “Recycled to Refined: Threads Reborn,” tackles a growing issue within Native and non-Native communities alike: the environmental cost of fast fashion and textile waste. Through this initiative, Mahiya aims to upcycle discarded clothing and everyday materials into wearable art, breathing new life into forgotten fabrics while promoting environmental awareness, cultural expression, and skill-building.
“This project isn’t just about fashion,” she explained. “It’s about transforming our mindset—seeing potential in what we usually throw away and understanding the impact our choices have on the Earth. It’s also about reclaiming creativity and cultural identity through what we wear.”
The project includes online tutorials, community workshops, and a social media campaign that teaches sewing, design, and repurposing techniques. Mahiya plans to partner with local businesses and organizations to source donations, host workshops, and create spaces where Native youth can come together to learn sustainable practices in a fun, collaborative environment.
“Mahiya possesses a unique ability to bridge cultural teachings with modern environmental challenges,” shared her nominator, Jonathan Arakawa. “She has consistently shown passion and dedication toward making a positive impact on the environment, driven by a strong sense of responsibility toward Mother Earth.”
By reducing textile waste and encouraging upcycling, “Recycled to Refined” not only lessens the carbon footprint of the fashion industry but also empowers young people to pursue creative careers, engage in cultural storytelling through their designs, and become sustainability advocates in their own right.
“She has the skills and dedication necessary to successfully host her own community project promoting environmental stewardship,” Arakawa added. “Her traditional values emphasize collective responsibility and respect for natural resources—exactly the kind of leadership we need.”
As she joins the 2025 Earth Ambassador cohort, Mahiya brings with her a spirit of transformation. Her leadership exemplifies UNITY’s mission to uplift Native youth as agents of change in their communities, bridging ancestral wisdom with modern solutions to today’s environmental challenges.
“I’m proud to be a part of this movement,” Mahiya said. “Our ancestors lived in harmony with the land. By returning to those values and reimagining them for today’s world, we can create a future that honors both the Earth and the stories we carry.”