UNITY Wraps Up a Successful Sold-Out National Conference

Phoenix, Ariz. – More than 3,000 attendees from around the country came together to celebrate their culture and explore strategies for using their voices and leadership to create positive change in their communities. Youth attendees and trainers held meaningful discussions and explored actions to promote positive mental health and substance abuse prevention efforts. The National Conference was held from June 27 to July 1 at the Town & Country Resort in SanDiego. The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation is the presenting sponsor.

“It’s always so inspiring to see our youth come together and demonstrate so much passion for their communities,” said Mary Kim Titla, UNITY executive director. “Our goal is always to empower Native youth to become cultural stewards and future leaders. Youth, chaperones, trainers, and staff felt a renewed sense of pride and purpose during the conference that will fuel them when they return home.” Pre-conference activities included campus tours at San Diego State University and a Native Youth Empowerment Night. Daily themes focused on spiritual, mental, physical, and social development, with dress days highlighting the initiatives Every Child Matters and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, and showcasing traditional dress.

The conference opened with the UNITY drum and the lighting of the UNITY fire, followed by a roll call, the introduction of Earth Ambassadors and UNITY trainers, area caucuses, and a special presentation by Running Strong for Native Youth. The conference continued with workshops, networking opportunities, Cultural Night, a talent show, a fashion show, and a 3v3 basketball tournament. Model, actress, and activist Quannah Chasinghorse (Han Gwich’in/Sicangu Oglala Lakota) hosted a Land Defender Fireside Chat and a meet-and-greet. UNITY youth elected Watson Whitford (Chippewa Cree/Navajo of Montana) and Mazie Countryman (Northern Arapaho, Eastern Shoshone, Shoshone Bannock, Navajo of Idaho) as co-presidents of the National UNITY Council Executive Committee. During their one-year term, Countryman and Whitford will work with the following area representatives who were elected by youth councils during the conference:

● Great Plains Area – Weston Bird (Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara), North Dakota

● Midwest Area – Gabriel Loonsfoot (Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians), Michigan

● Northeast Area – Liliana Mars (Narragansett/Navajo), Rhode Island

● Northwest Area – Tia Butler (Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians), Oregon

● Pacific Area – Alina Sanchez (Wilton Miwok), California ● Rocky Mountain Area – Rhiannon Eaglespeaker (Blackfoot/Kiowa), Montana

● Southeast Area – Ethan Hedgepeth (Cherokee/Tuscarora), North Carolina

● Southern Plains Area – Victor Organista (Prairie Band of Potawatomi), Kansas

● Southwest Area – Jamie Crowe (Tesuque Pueblo), New Mexico

● Western Area – Amaya Escalante (Pascua Yaqui Tribe), Arizona UNITY named its next class of Earth Ambassadors, an extraordinary group of Native youth leaders who are standing at the frontlines of environmental justice, cultural preservation, and climate advocacy. 2025-26 Circle of UNITY Earth Ambassadors

● Codie Horse-Topetchy (Kiowa, Comanche & Otoe-Missouria Tribes), Oklahoma

● Jada Allen (Lumbee Tribe), North Carolina

● Jizelle Juan (Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community), Arizona

● Laylalanai Gocobachi (Pasqua Yaqui Tribe), Arizona

● Mahiya Ramirez (Muscogee (Creek) Nation), Oklahoma

● Marla Mesarina (Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe & Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate), Minnesota

● McKaylin Peters (Menominee Indian Tribe), Wisconsin

● Neepa Hyde (Shinnecock Nation), Minnesota

● Nizhoni Deschene (Navajo Nation & Turtle Mountain Chippewa), Maryland

● Vydell Willie (Navajo Nation), Arizona Several scholarships were awarded during the conference. The Golda Cook Scholarship was established in honor of the life of Golda Cook (1913- 2005) and her ongoing support of UNITY. Golda’s friends, family, and UNITY trustees have made contributions to establishing the Golda Cook Memorial Fund.

This year’s recipients are:

● Nicolas Littleman (Navajo Nation), attending the University of Arizona, majoring in software engineering

● Hannah Norberto (Navajo Nation), attending Northern Arizona University with a bachelor’s degree in population health and working toward a Master of Public Health in health promotion with a minor in community health education The J.R. Cook Scholarship honors the life of UNITY’s founder, J.R. Cook (1939- 2022), and his vision to empower Native youth to reach their full potential. His family and UNITY Alumni have established this scholarship. This scholarship was awarded to:

● Ally Gee (Diné), attending the University of Washington, pursuing a Master of Public Health with a focus on community-oriented public health practice New this year, the Norman DesRosiers Scholarship is a two-year award given to one female and one male student. The late Norman Des Rosiers devoted his career to advancing Native American gaming regulation and supporting Native causes, including UNITY. A member of the San Carlos Apache Tribal Bar Association and International Masters of Gaming Law, he served as Commissioner for the Viejas Tribal Gaming Commission. The scholarship recipients are:

● Joshua Shumak (Wassamasaw Tribe of Varnertown Indians), attending Columbia International University seeking a Ph.D. in organizational leadership, with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in finance

● Evelyn Enos (Gila River Indian Community), attending Arizona State University, studying biological sciences (neurobiology, physiology, and behavior) with two minors in American Indian studies and psychology

During the UNITY Gala, the following awards were presented:

● UNITY J.R. Cook Advisor of the Year: Rosemary Reano, Santo Domingo Pueblo

● UNITY Eddie Wadda Alumni of the Year: Lynnann Yazzie, Navajo Nation

● UNITY Youth Council of the Year:  Young River People’s Council

In addition, UNITY recognized Loretta Tuell, Nez Perce, who became passionate about UNITY when she attended a UNITY White House event in 1980. Tuell was honored for 30 years of service to the organization. She has served as a UNITY Trustee for 30 years and currently serves as Chairman.

UNITY is proud to recognize the top 2025 sponsors: Gila River Indian Community, Vadon Foundation, Bank of America Charitable Foundation, Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians, Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, Poarch Band of Creek Indians, Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, San Carlos Apache Tribe, Colorado River Indian Tribes, Titan Facility Services, LLC, The Chickasaw Nation, Arizona Public Service, Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation (MHA), United Auburn Indian Community. The 2026 UNITY Midyear Conference will take place in Phoenix on January 17-19 at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel. Visit www.unity.org for more information.

### ABOUT UNITY Founded in 1976, United National Indian Tribal Youth, Inc. (UNITY) is a national network organization promoting personal development, citizenship, and leadership among Native Youth. UNITY’s mission is to foster the spiritual, mental, physical, and social development of American Indian and Alaska Native youth ages 14 -24, and to help build a strong, unified, and self-reliant Native America through greater youth involvement. UNITY’s network currently includes 274 affiliated youth councils in 34 states. Youth Councils are sponsored by Tribes, Alaska Native villages, high schools, colleges, urban centers, and others. UNITY’s signature event is theNational UNITY Conference, held each summer in various states. It is the longest, largest Native American and Alaska Native youth leadership conference in the country, with more than 2,000 attendees annually.