Southern Plains Region

UNITY Regional Profile

The Southern Plains Region consists of geographical areas and the states of Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. The Southern Plains region has 21 affiliated youth councils in 4 states within the UNITY Network.

Meet your Representative

Rulan Harjo, Nyul ‘Izháshe Bch’ee’kén (Wind Bird Woman), Sùùs Abíní (Morning Star), is a proud citizen of the Fort-Sill Apache Tribe and carries Chiricahua, Warm Springs, and San Carlos Apache ancestry. She is also of Comanche and Seminole descent. A passionate advocate for Native youth, Rulan is dedicated to creating spaces where young people can connect, lead, and strengthen their communities through culture, service, and wellness.

In 2026, Rulan founded the Oklahoma Indigenous Youth Council (OIYC), an intertribal youth council serving Native youth in grades 8–12 throughout Oklahoma. As the current President, she works to empower youth through leadership development, community service, and activities that support physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being. Through both virtual and in-person gatherings, OIYC provides opportunities for Native youth to build relationships, develop leadership skills, and create meaningful change within their communities.

Rulan is currently a junior at Edmond Memorial High School, where she continues to excel academically and through extracurricular involvement. She is a member of the National Honor Society and the Oklahoma Indian Student Honor Society, has earned Superintendent Honor Roll recognition, and is a dedicated member of her school’s state-champion cross-country team. Her commitment to excellence extends into the arts, where her work has been showcased through school and district art exhibitions, as well as the 2025 Red Earth Festival, where she earned second place for her artwork.

Through her leadership, creativity, and dedication to service, Rulan continues to explore ways to strengthen communities and inspire others. Looking toward the future, she hopes to pursue higher education in landscape architecture and environmental design, combining her passion for creativity, community development, and environmental stewardship to help build spaces that reflect the needs and visions of the people.

Grounded in culture, innovation, and a commitment to uplifting others, Rulan is a rising Native youth leader who continues to create opportunities for connection, growth, and positive change for future generations.

National UNITY Council Contact Information

Southern Plains Region

Rulan Harjo, Southern Plains Regional Representative

southernplains@unityinc.org

National UNITY Council Executive Committee

nucec@unityinc.org

UNITY Youth Councils in the Southern Plains Region

The National UNITY Network consists of 309 affiliated youth councils in 35 states. The Southern Plains region has 21 affiliated youth councils in 4 states within the UNITY Network.

Alabama-Coushatta Inner Voice Youth Council, Texas
All Nations Youth Council, Oklahoma
Anadarko UNITY, Oklahoma
Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes, Oklahoma
Comanche Nation IAMNDN, Oklahoma
Firekeepers Youth Council, Kansas
Haskell Unity Club, Kansas
IAMNDN, Oklahoma
Kickapoo Unity Youth Council, Kansas
Kickapoo UNITY Youth Council, Oklahoma
Kiowa Youth Leadership Program, Oklahoma
Mvskoke Nation Youth Council, Oklahoma
OKC UNITY Council, Oklahoma
Oklahoma Indigenous Youth Council, Oklahoma
Prairie Band of Potawatomi Nation Boys & Girls Club Firekeepers Youth Council, Kansas
The Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, Oklahoma
Tribal Education Departments National Assembly, Oklahoma
Tribal Juvenile Justice, Oklahoma
Tulsa Native Youth Board, Oklahoma
Wah-Zha-Zhe Youth Council, Oklahoma
Youth Leadership Council, Oklahoma

Meet your Earth Ambassadors

Codie Horse-Topetchy, 22
Kiowa, Comanche, Otoe-Missouria, Pawnee
University of Oklahoma

Codie Horse-Topetchy, Gú:[dòhìñ Mà (Eagle Woman), is Kiowa, Comanche, Otoe-Missouria, and Pawnee. She was raised in Oklahoma in a traditional Kiowa household and comes from the Bear clan on her Otoe side and the Kwahadi band on her Comanche side. Codie is currently studying Native American Studies at the University of Oklahoma, with minors in political science and linguistics. Her research focuses on bison restoration, Kiowa history, and Otoe-Missouria traditional ecological knowledge through projects connecting TEK, hydrology, and GIS mapping. She is the founder of Dáui T’á:gyà (Good Medicine), a grassroots initiative empowering women and girls through Kiowa culture and land-based practices. For her environmental leadership, she was named a Young Climate Leader of Color. Codie is working toward becoming a certified Kiowa language teacher and serves on the Native Girls Mental Health Advisory Board with the Indigenous Justice Circle and Johns Hopkins University. She is passionate about cultural preservation and plans to pursue a master’s degree in environmental science and rangeland management after graduation.

Mahiya Ramirez, 22
Muscogee (Creek) Nation
University of Central Oklahoma

Mahiya Ramirez, Mvskoke (Creek), is a senior at the University of Central Oklahoma, pursuing a degree in Photographic Arts. Raised on the Mvskoke Reservation in Oklahoma, Mahiya developed a deep appreciation for her culture, community, and the power of storytelling. Through her photography, she aims to uplift Indigenous voices and share the beauty, strength, and stories of Native communities across the U.S. A dedicated youth leader, Mahiya previously served as a member and speaker of the Mvskoke Nation Youth Council, holding multiple executive roles since 2017. She was recognized with the Mvnettvkle Onaya (Youth Visionary Award for Fostering Advocacy) and named MNYC Member of the Year in 2019. Currently, Mahiya serves as Vice President and Southern Plains Representative on the United National Indian Tribal Youth (UNITY) Executive Committee. In her role, she works to create safe, inclusive spaces where all Native youth feel seen, heard, and empowered. Mahiya is committed to being a strong role model for Native communities across the Southern Plains and beyond.

Meet your 25 Under 25

Grace Fox, 24, Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, Oklahoma

Master of Public Policy, University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government; Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Ethnicity and Race Studies with an Emphasis in Native American Studies, Columbia University

Grace Fox is a proud citizen of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma and a Tribal Healthcare Policy Analyst at the University of Oklahoma’s Native Nations Center for Tribal Policy Research. Through the NIH-funded Improving Cancer Outcomes in Native American Communities (ICON) initiative, Grace analyzes federal policies and systems that shape health outcomes for Tribal Nations, translating complex structures into accessible, actionable research for tribal leaders, decision-makers, and community partners. Grace earned her Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University, graduating cum laude with majors in Psychology and Ethnicity and Race Studies, with a specialization in Native American Studies. She later earned her Master of Public Policy from the University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government, where she was an Eisenhower Global Scholar. Before joining OU, Grace worked in Washington, D.C. with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Tribal Relations and the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Education, supporting federal policy implementation across tribal public health, education, and food sovereignty initiatives. Across every role, Grace works to strengthen systems, expand access, reaffirm sovereignty, and serve Tribal Nations. Inspired by the resilience and love of her ancestors, she strives to create a more equitable, hopeful, and healthy world for future generations.

Mahiya Ramirez, 23, Muscogee (Creek), Oklahoma

Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications with an Emphasis in Photographic Arts, University of Central Oklahoma

Mahiya Ramirez, Mvskoke (Creek), is an alumna of the University of Central Oklahoma, where she majored in Mass Communications with a specialization in photographic arts. Raised in Oklahoma on the Mvskoke Reservation, she brings a deep commitment to her culture, community, and teachings into her visual storytelling practice. Her work centers Indigenous narratives, using photography to uplift and amplify Indigenous voices across Indian Country and beyond. Through her creative practice, she blends land, lens, and leadership. Documenting Indigenous youth, culture, and environmental relationships as living forms of storytelling and resistance. Her work has been featured in the UCO Photographic Arts Exhibition and earned her the UCO Mass Communications Portraiture Award. Ramirez is a 2025–2026 UNITY Earth Ambassador, where she leads work focused on sustainable fashion and the environmental and cultural impacts of fast fashion. Her advocacy challenges consumption practices through an Indigenous lens of relational responsibility, emphasizing sustainability as rooted in community, identity, and care for future generations. Her work continues to advance Indigenous-led storytelling, climate awareness, and youth empowerment through both visual art and community action.