Southeast Region

Kaylee Evans, the 17-year-old daughter of Earl Evans and Amanda (Collins) Jacobs, currently serves as the UNITY Southeastern Representative. Through this Kaylee hopes to continue her passion of advocating for American Indian youth and communities. At the tender age of 7 years old, Kaylee walked the halls of the United States Congress with her father, then vice chairman of the Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe, in a unified push with tribal leaders from across the country seeking increased resources for Indian nations. There, particularly speaking about her experience as a student in the Haliwa-Saponi Tribal School, Kaylee met with the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. She also sent a letter to then-President of the United States Barack Obama, whom to her surprise, wrote back. President Obama encouraged her to “Always remember that nothing is beyond your reach as long as you are willing to dream big and work hard. If you stay focused on your education and remember to help others whenever you can, I know there are no limits to what you can achieve.” Kaylee has held firm to that advice. Kaylee’s commitment to school is just as furious as her community advocacy as she has continued to maintain a 4.0+ GPA. As the impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic reached epic proportions in 2020, Kaylee and her family led multiple fundraisers to help community members in need. Bags filled with hand sanitizer, face masks and canned foods were distributed to dozens of Haliwa-Saponi elders before many government services mobilized. Now a rising senior at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM), Kaylee endeavors to reinvigorate intertribal youth collaboration. Growing up in both the Haliwa-Saponi and Lumbee communities, Kaylee recognizes the importance of unifying youth from the different tribes around common concerns. With her titles held, Miss NC Native American Youth Organization (NCNAYO), NCNAYO Female Co-Chair, and NCNAYO secretary, Kaylee has committed to lead by example, staying involved in all facets of the organization and encouraging others to do the same. Her 2022 NCNAYO election speech invoked encouragement for conference attendees in fashion similar to inspiration she received from President Obama’s letter. “A wise person once told me, the change you wish to make is in your hands, so you have the control…” she shared with NCNAYO youth. “We as the next leaders of our communities hold the power of change in our hands, we just have to grasp it.” said Kaylee. Not being one to waste time, nor an opportunity, Kaylee is taking her message to tribal youth across the country.