Southeast Region
UNITY Regional Profile
The Southeast Region consists of geographical areas and the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, West Virginia and Virginia . The Western region has 20 affiliated youth councils in 12 states within the UNITY Network.
2025 Fall Native Youth Meetup
UNITY News: Southeast Updates
Southeast Regional Representative: Ethan Hedgepeth
Ethan Hedgepeth – UNITY Southeast Area Representative
Tribes: Cherokee and Tuscarora of North Carolina
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Ethan Hedgepeth is a proud Cherokee and Tuscarora leader from North Carolina, honored to serve as the 2025–2026 Southeast Area Representative for the National UNITY Council Executive Committee. In this role, he represents Native youth from the states of Florida, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Virginia.
This fall, Ethan will begin his college journey as a freshman at East Carolina University, where he plans to major in Physical Education with the goal of becoming a Physical Therapist. His passion for health and wellness is deeply rooted in his desire to support and strengthen Native communities.
Since 2021, Ethan has been actively involved with NCNAYO (North Carolina Native American Youth Organization), a program dedicated to guiding Native youth through the college preparation process while fostering leadership at both the local and statewide levels. Through NCNAYO, he has embraced opportunities to mentor his peers, promote cultural pride, and represent Native youth across North Carolina.
As a UNITY representative, Ethan is committed to empowering youth, preserving Indigenous culture, and raising awareness of the challenges facing Native communities. His goal is to inspire the next generation of leaders and to ensure that Native youth from the Southeast region are represented with strength, pride, and authenticity.
“I am dedicated to being a voice for our communities,” he says, “and to making meaningful change that will benefit Native youth now and for generations to come.”
Ethan Hedgepeth looks forward to the opportunities ahead and is ready to serve, lead, and uplift the Southeast region with heart and purpose.
SOUTHEAST REGION
Ethan Hedgepeth, Southeast Regional Representative
National UNITY Council Executive Committee
Southeast Region Youth Councils
- Poarch Creek Youth Council
- Seminole Tribe Youth Council
- Yamassee Youth Council
- Tunica-Biloxi Youth Council
- Coushatta Tribe
- HUYGI Youth Coucil
- Sovereign Youth Council
- Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana
- Rising Sun Youth Group
- Chahta Alla Youth Council
- Eastern Band of Cherokee Youth Council
- Talented American Indian Leaders’ Student UNITY Council
- NC Native American Youth Organization (NCNAYO)
- Red Earth Youth Council
- Haliwa Saponi Tribal Youth Council
- Waccamaw Siouan Drum Circle Youth Council
- Cherokee Youth Council
- NASA – Native American Student Association
Jada Allen, 21
Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina
Duke University
Jada Allen is a proud citizen of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, born and raised in Robeson County. She recently graduated from Duke University, where she studied Public Policy with a minor in Global Health and earned a certificate in Health Policy. On campus, she was an active member of the Native American/Indigenous Student Alliance (NAISA) and a sister of Alpha Pi Omega Sorority, Inc. In 2024, Jada served as a Udall intern at the U.S. Department of the Interior in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, where she deepened her interest in law and helped support Tribal Nations under the Biden Administration. Her passion for public health and environmental policy is rooted in her lived experience in her tribal community. In her free time, Jada enjoys reading, beading, and spending time with loved ones.
Mariah Hernandez-Fitch, 23, Houma, Louisiana
School: 2nd year American Indian Studies Master’s program, University of California Los Angeles; Bachelor’s Degree in Film and Media Studies (2023), Dartmouth College
Platform: My dream is to combine the impactful medium of film with important issues like federal recognition, language revitalization, and coastal erosion through a youth program. This initiative aims to teach indigenous youth film production fundamentals, offering them a platform to tell their stories and contribute to meaningful projects. Recognizing the limited film production education in public schools, I want to fill this gap by introducing these skills at a younger age. Given my own challenges learning film production during college, I see the value in early exposure. However, access to necessary resources like computers, editing software, cameras, and lighting equipment is a significant barrier. To overcome this, I propose partnering with the library system to utilize their resources and create a supportive environment. The program could begin as a summer initiative, culminating in a community project. As the program director and instructor, I will share my passion for film and empower youth to use storytelling for positive change, fostering creative expression and technical skills for a more inclusive and empowered future.
“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.”