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.
2024 Fall Native Youth Meetup
Midwest Tutorial: How to Set Up Your UNITY Connect Membership Dashboard
UNITY News: MIDWEST Updates
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Midwest Rep. Mesarina attended the White House Tribal Youth Forum as the UNITY Midwest Regional Representative where she got the…
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This month I attended a powwow and got to dance. I also got to participate in the parade and invited…
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As we continue to find ways to heal our mental and emotional health, we learn to utilize various means to…
Midwest Regional Representative: Marla Mesarina
Marla Mesarina – UNITY Midwest Area Representative
Tribes: Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe/Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Sioux
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Marla is from the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, and an enrolled member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribe. Marla is culturally motivated and shows her perseverance through her cultural involvement. Marla served as the Miss Minnesota Indian Education Association Ambassador 2022-2023, where she hosted specials for the community to be involved in. Marla is active in her community by traveling to powwows and jingle-dress dancing. One of her dancing accomplishments is receiving “Iron Woman Jingle Dress Champion 2021.” She served as a Representative on the 2023-2024 Minnesota Association of Student Councils (MASC) Northwest Division Board where she represents diversity and brings awareness to students’ mental health. Marla was a UNITY Newscaster at UNITY 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Marla is the recipient of the 2022-2023 Minnesota Indian Education Association “High School Student of the Year,” which is an award given to a high school student in the state of Minnesota who brings inspiration to Indian country. She attends school at TrekNorth Jr. and Sr. High School in Bemidji, Minnesota, where she implements culture into her school life as Native Youth Council President, National Arts Honors Society President, National Honors Society Vice President, and Student Council Vice President. Through her work on the Native Youth Council, Marla implemented the Ojibwe “Ojibwe word of the week” into her school’s morning announcements, and created an after-school beading club. With her involvement with her high school speech team, she was awarded the “Most Valuable Speaker” and the “Most Decorated Speaker.” Marla also runs track, and for the 2022 season was awarded “Most Valuable Girls Sprinter.” Marla is a full time student at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, double majoring in the Ojibwemowin Language & Early Childhood Education. Marla loves networking with Native youth in Indian Country. She thrives best when she is surrounded by native youth, and is actively working to advance the communities accessibility to bring awareness to numerous issues surrounding generational trauma, as well as the culture as a whole.
MIDWEST REGION
Marla Mesarina, UNITY Midwest Area Representative
National UNITY Council Executive Committee
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
MIDWEST Updates
2022 SPRING Midwest VIRTUAL MEET-UP
2021 Fall Western Virtual Meet-Up
“Being here with UNITY is such a great experience. You get to meet so many new people and learn more about different tribes and their cultures.””
“The gathering, the sharing of cultures, the UNITY of our people!”
“Our YOUTH is the future!”
“It’s the best place to be open about what you think and what you want to do for your school or community. They make you feel like family and welcome you openly.”
“Great organization that allows empowerment for the Native youth to excel in leadership skills, networking opportunity, and early professional growth.”
“Awesome for youth group & leadership.”