UNITY’s 2025 Midyear Conference celebrated the legacy of oral tradition and the power of written word as vital expressions of Indigenous identity. Through storytelling and creative writing workshops, youth explored how narratives shape their understanding of self, community, and purpose. These sessions fostered spiritual healing, cultural pride, and renewed passion to amplify Native voices through literature and media.
Evelyn Enos (Akimel O’odham and Tohono O’odham) led “Indigenous Youth Write Our Futures,” introducing a creative writing initiative that promotes Native youth authorship. “Youth wrote with boldness. They shared poems about boarding schools, joy in powwows, and dreams of change. The room became a ceremony of words,” Enos shared.
In “Empowering Through Stories: The Indigenous Literature Book Drop Initiative,” Anagali Duncan (Keetoowah) showed how books could shift narratives in schools. “Youth brainstormed how to bring more Native-authored books to their libraries. They understood that seeing themselves in stories validates their identities,” Duncan explained.
Leala Pourier (Oglala), alongside presenters from Pursuit Films, hosted “The Original Storytellers: Empowering Native Voices in Filmmaking.” “We showed youth that storytelling is more than writing—it’s directing, sound design, and cinematography. They left seeing film as a spiritual and cultural act of remembering,” Pourier said.
Alyssa Mosley (Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape) offered digital expression in “Finding Your Personal Style Through Social Media and SEO.” “Youth discovered how to honor their culture and creativity online. They learned to build digital mood boards using keywords that reflect who they are,” Mosley reflected.
Youth participants across these workshops described storytelling as medicine. They reflected on how reclaiming their narratives helped them navigate pain, pride, and healing.
Duncan’s workshop encouraged youth to write letters to future Native students. “Some wrote, ‘I hope you always know who you are.’ Others said, ‘Tell our stories loud.’ Those messages are already changing lives,” she shared.
UNITY’s storytelling workshops weren’t just about the mechanics of writing—they were about truth-telling, legacy, and visibility. They reminded youth that their voices matter, and their ancestors are listening. Through creativity, young Native leaders reclaimed agency and found joy in authorship. Their stories echoed with laughter, tears, and resilience. UNITY’s ongoing commitment to uplifting Native storytellers ensures that future generations will know their history, honor their culture, and write boldly into the future.