Phoenix, Arizona — January 19, 2026
During the UNITY Midyear Conference in Phoenix, the National UNITY Council (NUC) officially adopted a powerful resolution titled “Restoring Balance: Healing Trauma & Ending Violence in Native Communities.”Approved at the National UNITY Council Business Meeting with a quorum present, the resolution establishes a unified, youth-driven framework to address some of the most urgent challenges facing Native youth and communities today.
Representing more than 300 affiliated UNITY youth councils across 34 states, the National UNITY Council serves as the largest and oldest Native youth leadership network in the United States. Grounded in UNITY’s mission to foster the spiritual, mental, physical, and social development of Native youth, the resolution reflects both lived experience and data-driven insight.
Youth Voices Driving Change
The resolution builds on extensive youth engagement, including the 2025 National UNITY Council Survey, which gathered responses from 836 Native youth, one of the largest youth-led data sets in UNITY’s history. These findings, combined with regional discussions and youth-led deliberations held during the 2025 National UNITY Conference in San Diego, confirmed the urgency for coordinated, culturally grounded action.
National data cited in the resolution highlights disproportionate challenges faced by Native youth, including elevated rates of substance abuse, suicide, violence, educational inequities, and the enduring impacts of historical and intergenerational trauma linked to boarding schools, relocation policies, and systemic inequities.
Top Ten Issues Facing Native Youth (2025–2026)
Through a collaborative consensus process, the National UNITY Council formally adopted the following Top Ten Issues Facing Native Youth:
- Substance Abuse
- Mental Health Disparities
- Generational Trauma
- Health Disparities
- Lack of Native Representation in Educational Curriculum
- Violence Against Native People
- Bullying and Lateral Violence Within Native Communities
- Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention
- Problems at Home
- High Dropout Rates
National Priorities for Immediate Action
From these ten issues, the National UNITY Council Executive Committee identified two national priorities requiring immediate and sustained focus:
- Generational Trauma
- Violence Against Native People, including MMIP/MMIW/MMIW2S+
These priorities will guide UNITY’s national advocacy, leadership training curriculum, and program initiatives throughout the coming year.
Call to Action for UNITY-Affiliated Youth Councils
The resolution strongly encourages all UNITY-affiliated youth councils to implement community service and action projects addressing these priorities. Suggested initiatives include intergenerational talking circles, cultural revitalization workshops, land-based healing programs, art-as-healing projects, MMIP awareness campaigns, healthy relationship education, and youth-led violence prevention efforts.
Youth leaders are also called upon to:
- Raise awareness through presentations and social media campaigns
- Engage tribal leaders, elders, and community organizations
- Develop youth-led initiatives rooted in cultural strength and community unity
- Report successes and lessons learned back to the National UNITY Council to inspire peers across Indian Country
Looking Ahead
Adopted on January 19, 2026, this resolution will serve as a guiding document for UNITY’s programming, partnerships, and advocacy strategy, ensuring that Native youth voices remain at the forefront of community-driven change. As UNITY approaches its 50th Anniversary, the resolution reaffirms its long-standing commitment to empowering Native youth to lead healing, restore balance, and protect future generations.