Featuring Earth Ambassador: Marla Mesarina (Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe / Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate
Community Connection Through Food and Farming This month, Midwest Earth Ambassador Marla Mesarina traveled to Hilo, Hawai‘i, as a proud member of the Next Generation Language Leaders Cohort, part of the National Native American Language Resource Center (N-NARLC). During her time on the Big Island, Marla immersed herself in the spiritual and cultural practices of Native Hawaiian communities by volunteering on two Indigenous-led farms. Her work demonstrated a strong commitment to community involvement, food sovereignty, and cultural exchange—all core values of the Earth Ambassador program.
At the first farm, Koholālele, Marla participated in an environmental restoration project alongside local stewards. “We helped pick pigeon seeds as well as clear out the dead leaves from their sacred trees,” she shared. She learned how pigeon peas are used to nourish the soil with nitrogen, a regenerative method to sustain land fertility. Equally important was the spiritual education she received. “They talked about their cultural connection with the cliffs, the lava, and how the ocean and volcanoes are all part of their story,” she reflected.
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On July 26, Marla partnered with the Olohana Foundation, where she continued her cultural exchange by working with past Earth Ambassador Kainoa Bronson and spiritual leader Kahu Kalani. This intergenerational mentorship reinforced UNITY’s belief that youth leaders thrive when rooted in community relationships.
Together, they harvested passion fruit and dragon fruit, learning about the sacred plants that hold meaning to the local community. “Being in an atmosphere where the language is connected with the land has inspired me to want to bring this back home to my own community,” Marla said. Through her experiences, she deepened her understanding of civic responsibility and cultural revitalization, drawing parallels to her own tribal homelands.
Service Projects With Purpose This wasn’t just a trip—it was a service journey rooted in responsibility. Whether picking fruit, tending soil, or clearing sacred groves, Marla’s hands-on contributions were grounded in Indigenous values of reciprocity. Her service projects honored both the environmental and spiritual stewardship of Native peoples.
“I have always known food sovereignty is very important, but seeing how the Indigenous peoples here live in food sovereignty was life-changing,” she said. Her time in Hawai‘i ignited a new vision: to build a community garden in her homeland where language and food intersect. As part of the Language Leaders Cohort, Marla’s learning extended beyond the soil. She witnessed firsthand how Native Hawaiian communities are reviving their language through land-based learning, inspiring her to pursue similar models in the Midwest.
“I hope to start a garden for my community and connect language with it,” she declared. By combining her passion for language revitalization with Indigenous agricultural practices, Marla plans to create a culturally grounded, educational space for future generations. She documented her experience through photos and videos, soon to be featured on the UNITY Earth Ambassador Instagram page—encouraging others to embrace cultural exchange, environmental wellness, and the sacred relationship between land and language.
The UNITY Earth Ambassador Program empowers Native youth to become environmental and cultural advocates for their communities. Through training, mentorship, and community engagement, Earth Ambassadors address climate justice, promote traditional ecological knowledge, and create actionable projects rooted in their own cultures.
Marla Mesarina’s journey this month is a shining example of the current Earth Ambassador cohort’s commitment to environmental stewardship, cultural revitalization, and intertribal solidarity. Whether tending gardens in Hilo or planting seeds of change back home, Marla is proof that Indigenous youth are leading with wisdom, purpose, and heart.
Follow UNITY’s Earth Ambassador program on social media to watch Marla’s upcoming video and to learn how you can support Indigenous youth-led climate solutions.