Midwest Region

UNITY Regional Profile

The UNITY Midwest Region Represents Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, and Missouri. Our goal is to provide a voice for the youth of the Midwest and uphold UNITY’s mission of fostering the spiritual, mental, physical, and social development of American Indian and Alaska Native youth.

Meet your Representative

Gabriel Loonsfoot is a proud citizen of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and currently serves as the 2025–2026 Midwest Area Representative on the National UNITY Council Executive Committee. He also holds the role of Chairman of the Pokagon Band Youth Council, where he leads local initiatives focused on cultural revitalization, youth leadership, and community engagement.

Entering his junior year of high school, Gabriel plans to pursue higher education in Indigenous Studies and Communications, with the goal of uplifting Native youth voices and preserving Potawatomi language, traditions, and storytelling.

Gabriel’s leadership journey began in 2017. Since then, he has been actively organizing cultural events, youth gatherings, and community programs centered on language revitalization, mental health awareness, and the empowerment of Native youth. His dedication to cultural preservation extends into music as well—Gabriel is the lead singer of Shke Noodin (Young Wind), a youth-led drum group composed of members from his Youth Council, and also sings with Zénba Odan (Ribbon Town).

Music is a central part of Gabriel’s advocacy. Through the songs he composes and performs in the Potawatomi language, he brings life to ancestral teachings in a meaningful and accessible way. His passion for singing is not just an art form but a tool for language revitalization and cultural education.

Through UNITY and his community work, Gabriel has connected with Native youth across the country, creating spaces where Indigenous voices are respected and celebrated. One of his goals is to help establish a UNITY Midwest Regional Conference—a gathering that would strengthen identity, unity, and leadership among tribal youth in the region.

Guided by cultural values and a heart for service, Gabriel Loonsfoot is committed to walking in a good way—supporting others, honoring tradition, and building a strong future for Native youth through song, leadership, and connection.

National UNITY Council Contact Information

MIDWEST REGION

Gabriel Loonsfoot, UNITY Midwest Area Representative

midwest@unityinc.org

National UNITY Council Executive Committee

nucec@unityinc.org

UNITY Youth Councils in the Midwest Region

Midwest Region Youth Councils

Gun Lake Tribe Unity Council
Nbiish Be Mwi Jwaang Youth Council
Wabaan Ogimaawag Youth Council
Pokagon Band Youth Council
Anishinabe Nimmki Youth Council
Native Nations Youth Jr. Council
Native Nations Youth Sr. Council
Malcolm Mavericks Tribal Youth Council
Hannahville Youth Advisory Council
Mnochege’ Huron Potawatomi UNITY Council
Waaniniigaanzijig Youth Council
Nswe Shkwade Youth Council
Waganakising Eshkiniigijik UNITY Council
Saginaw Chippewa Youth Council
Anishinabe Youth Council
Bahweting Anishinabek Youth Council
Maawanji Idiwag Youth Council
Anishinaabe Leaders of Tomorrow
Upper Sioux YC-Pehijutazizi Youth Council
Leech Lake Tribal Youth Council
Mille Lacs Band Advisory Youth Council
Red Lake Nation Youth Council
Northland Community Schools
Lower Sioux UNITY
Ogitchidaa Oyate
Bemidji High School
Cedar Mountain UNITY
Native Youth Coalition of Cass Lake
Young Native Leaders
Chicago Indian Tribal Youth
Chi-Nations Youth Council
Terra Rouge Unity Council (TRU)
Lac Courte Oreilles Youth Council
Nanda-Gikendan Youth Council
Central WI Native American Youth Council
Tomah Ho-Chunk Youth Council
Forest County Potawatomie UNITY Youth Council
Weshki Niigaanijig
Bad River UNITY Youth Council
On^yote?aka Youth Council

Meet your Earth Ambassadors

Marla Mesarina, 19
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe / Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate
University of Minnesota – Twin Cities

Marla Mesarina is a proud descendant of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and an enrolled member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate. A freshman at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Marla is deeply committed to cultural revitalization, youth leadership, and Indigenous language preservation. She served two terms on the UNITY Executive Committee as the Midwest Regional Representative, where she worked to uplift Native youth through advocacy and cultural pride. Marla was also selected for the Youth Leadership Council with the Aanikoobijigeng National Native American Language Resource Center (N-NALRC), focusing on Indigenous language reclamation and empowerment. Passionate about Indigenous food sovereignty, Marla actively shares Ojibwe teachings and her journey of traditional food gathering on social media—creating space for connection, healing, and growth. With each step, Marla continues to be a strong advocate for language, culture, and Native youth empowerment.

McKaylin Peters, 23
Menominee Nation
University of Wisconsin–Madison

McKaylin Peters is a proud citizen of the Menominee Nation from Keshena, Wisconsin. She recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison with a Bachelor of Science in Community & Nonprofit Leadership and certificates in American Indian & Indigenous Studies, Global Health, Languages, and Education. McKaylin now serves as Executive Director of the Chairman’s Office for the Menominee Tribe. Her work is rooted in community, mental health advocacy, and cultural representation. She’s served as a PEOPLE Scholar, Indigenous Student Programming Intern, COUSIN Fellow, and Earth Partnership Fellow—where she focused on incorporating the Menominee language into mental health resources. Her passion for leadership, philanthropy, and storytelling has led her to roles such as Native Youth Grantmaker with Native Americans in Philanthropy, Remembering Our Sisters Fellow, and Fresh Tracks Trainer. She also supported research aimed at increasing philanthropic support for Native communities. McKaylin’s work centers on belonging, healing, and uplifting Indigenous voices. She is honored to serve her community and remains dedicated to creating spaces of strength, resilience, and visibility for Native people.

Néepa Hyde, 14
Shinnecock Nation
Northfield Senior High School

Néepa Wotahomon Hyde is a 14-year-old member of the Shinnecock Nation currently living in Minnesota. She is a freshman at Northfield Senior High School, where she’s involved in student council and plays on the volleyball team. Néepa was recently selected as a 2025–2026 UNITY Earth Ambassador, a role that allows her to lead a community project focused on promoting food sovereignty. She brings three years of experience working with Dream of Wild Health, where she has learned about Indigenous farming practices and the importance of reclaiming traditional food systems. She has also participated in Model UN for two years, sharpening her public speaking and leadership skills. Néepa is passionate about uplifting Native youth voices and building a healthier future through Indigenous knowledge and practices.

Meet Your 25 Under 25

Dylan Dettloff, 21, Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Wisconsin

School: Columbia University; Major: Sustainable Development & Environmental Engineering

Bio: Dylan is a senior at Columbia University majoring in Sustainable Development. He is particularly interested in water systems, climate technology, and sustainable infrastructure. At Columbia, Dylan has served as a Teaching Assistant for Intro to Sustainable Development and as the President of the Student Union for Sustainable Development. He is also a Kluge Scholar, reflecting his commitment to academic excellence and interdisciplinary work. Dylan’s research focuses on solar-driven desalination and evaluating water treatment technologies for different environmental and community contexts. He hopes to pursue graduate studies in environmental or hydrological engineering and build a career focused on advancing sustainable water solutions.

Gabriel Spinks, 25, Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse, Minnesota

School: Pursuing Master of Science in Advocacy and Political Leadership; Bachelor of Arts in Social Science, Metropolitan State University

Bio: Gabriel Spinks is a Minneapolis-based political strategist and community organizer with a proven track record in campaign management, policy advocacy, and grassroots organizing. He has managed competitive electoral campaigns at both the municipal and tribal government levels. Gabriel has also led state-level advocacy efforts focused on education reform, juvenile justice, and youth economic equity, and has worked alongside city and county stakeholders to advance public health policy across Minnesota. His career reflects a consistent commitment to community — shaped by years of public service with the City of Minneapolis and direct work with American Indian youth and families. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science from Metropolitan State University and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Advocacy and Political Leadership.

McKaylin Peters, 24, Menominee Indian Tribe, Wisconsin

School: Pursuing a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership, Johns Hopkins University; Bachelor of Science in Community & Nonprofit Leadership, University of Wisconsin–Madison

Bio: McKaylin Peters (she/her) is a citizen of the Menominee Nation from Keshena, Wisconsin. Raised on the Menominee Reservation, she currently serves as the Executive Director of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin. McKaylin earned a Bachelor of Science in Community & Nonprofit Leadership from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, along with certificates in American Indian & Indigenous Studies and Global Health, Languages, and Education. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership at Johns Hopkins University. Deeply committed to her community, McKaylin has worked extensively in mental health advocacy, with a particular focus on Indigenous youth and men’s mental health. She serves on the Tribe’s Mental Health Task Force, coaches Tribal Storm 12U Softball, and acts as the Tribal Government Mentor for the Menominee Youth Council, where she is also a founding member. McKaylin is passionate about philanthropy, leadership, and storytelling as tools for community empowerment. She has served as a Native Youth Grantmaker with Native Americans in Philanthropy, a Remembering Our Sisters Fellow with the Center for Native American Youth, a Fresh Tracks Trainer with the Aspen Institute, and an Earth Ambassador with UNITY. She served on an advisory committee for a collaborative research project between Native Americans in Philanthropy and The Bridgespan Group, focused on increasing non-Native philanthropic support for Native communities. Recently she was selected as a 2026 Champion for Change and a 2026 25 Under 25 honoree. McKaylin’s work is grounded in a commitment to fostering belonging, resilience, and authentic cultural representation. She is honored to represent Menominee Nation and remains dedicated to uplifting Indigenous voices and initiatives.