Liliana Mars, 18
Tribe: Narragansett, Navajo
Individual Member
Liliana Mars, 18, is an enrolled member of the Narragansett Tribe of Charlestown, Rhode Island, and a descendant of the Navajo Nation of New Mexico. As she prepares to graduate from Acellus Academy with a 4.0 GPA, Liliana looks ahead to the fall, where she will begin her studies at the University of Rhode Island, pursuing her dream of becoming a nurse.
Her commitment to service and leadership has already been well demonstrated through her involvement with the United National Indian Tribal Youth (UNITY) organization. During the 2023–2024 term, Liliana served as a UNITY Earth Ambassador, dedicating her platform to food sovereignty. Through this work, she organized food distributions within her community, providing direct support to tribal members. Her efforts continued into the 2024–2025 term as the elected Northeast Regional Representative, a role in which she has expanded her food distribution efforts and furthered her outreach within her tribe.
In addition to her advocacy work, Liliana was recently crowned Miss Sycuan Powwow Princess. This title has taken her across the country, where she dances, sings, and shares teachings from her cultural traditions. During her travels, she also takes the opportunity to educate others about UNITY and its mission to empower Native youth.
Outside of her leadership and advocacy roles, Liliana is known for her warmth and dedication to others. She finds joy in traveling with her family, participating in powwows, playing with her dogs, and volunteering at her former schools. Her passion for helping others is a defining part of who she is—whether through a kind word, a supportive gesture, or a commitment to uplifting her peers.
Now serving in her second term as Northeast Representative, Liliana is preparing to deepen her work in the region. She is actively planning visits to youth councils and working with tribal leadership to secure support for increased travel. She carries with her a strong sense of purpose, rooted in her own experiences as a Native youth seeking to be heard.
Liliana’s dedication to her community continues to grow, and she remains committed to being a voice for Native youth in the Northeast—offering support, building connections, and ensuring that all young people in her region feel seen, valued, and empowered.