UNITY Youth Highlight
Starting college at Montana State University brought Watson Whitford new responsibilities on campus while he continued building connections across UNITY’s Rocky Mountain region. His September 2023 report described a month of coursework, outreach, cultural visibility, and learning how to find his place in a new environment.
Whitford, who identifies as Chippewa Cree and Navajo, served as Rocky Mountain Representative in UNITY’s 2023–2024 National UNITY Council Executive Committee cohort. The cohort connects regional youth councils and individual members, represents youth perspectives, and develops leadership through cooperation and service.
On campus in Bozeman, Whitford worked to meet people while keeping up with classes, homework, and projects. He was also hired to work at MSU’s American Indian Hall, planning events connected with Native American people. That position linked his developing campus relationships with opportunities to contribute.
His regional work continued through contacting youth councils and sharing information about the Rocky Mountain Region Meetup. He hoped to create a regional Instagram page to help more youth connect and learn about UNITY, and he planned to continue reaching out to councils and tribal leaders.
Whitford also wrote to his tribe seeking assistance to attend the National Congress of American Indians convention in New Orleans. He viewed participation as a chance to deepen his understanding of leadership. At the time of his report, it was an opportunity he was working toward.
“I am excited to see the growth of our tribal youth leaders and how they will provide answers for many of our problems today,” he shared.
During MSU’s homecoming parade, Whitford carried the Chippewa Cree tribal flag. He described the experience as powerful because it made Indigenous people visible within the larger campus gathering.
These activities connected UNITY’s leadership and social development goals with his own transition into college. Outreach to councils kept regional youth relationships active, while his campus job and participation in homecoming brought cultural identity into university life.
Whitford’s account shows the work of a young representative developing alongside the person behind the role: studying, forming new relationships, taking on a job, and continuing to make space for Native youth and community visibility.
