More than 700 Native American and Alaska Native youth, aged 12-24, and advisors gathered for the 2025 UNITY Midyear Conference, which provided three days of professional leadership development, highlighting community service and advocacy for Indigenous communities.

A variety of professional development workshops and breakout sessions, as well as extracurricular activities that included the sharing of culture, music and art, were available for youth to continuously engage with one another. The focus of the midyear conference was “Digitizing youth voices, inspiring Indigenous stories.”

UNITY (United National Indian Tribal Youth) is excited to host several speakers and presenters that are passionate in supporting community service and advocacy throughout Native Country. Through a variety of programmatic activities, team building and collaboration, our Native youth leaders will actively engage with one another, brainstorming and building on new ideas to create change within their respective communities.

TANF PRC Site Manager Harold Arres, Senior Program Specialist Annalisa Tucker and Transportation Coordinator Nancy Gallegos accompanied nine youths, aged 12-17, from the Soboba program to Phoenix. Tucker said she enjoyed watching youth who haven’t attended a conference before coming out of their shell and really absorb what was being taught.

“I hope the experience showed them the importance of keeping their culture alive and to support and learn from other Native communities,” she said.

Aniyah Brittian, 13, attended sessions about mental health, education, Native identities and storytelling. “I learned the importance of speaking up and being proud of who I am.”

The high school freshman said she enjoyed learning about the different Native American traditions that other Tribes have.

Sixth-grader Nayeli Brittian also attended a session that focused on mental health. Watching people from other Tribes dancing is what she liked best about the conference.

Shania Guacheno participated in workshops about mental health, education, drug/substance abuse education and storytelling.

“I learned not to use drugs,” said Shania, 13. “I liked that I got to watch and learn other Tribes’ traditions.”

The purpose of the Native Youth Leadership Summit in Washington, DC is to bring Native youth leaders together by providing interactive learning sessions to strengthen leadership abilities. As the future leaders of Indian Country and defenders of Tribal sovereignty, participants engage in the larger conversation of protecting and maintaining Tribal sovereignty through a youth perspective.

Arres, Program Specialist Mayra Campos and TANF Riverside Site Manager Angela Diaz were joined by four youths, aged 15-19, at the Native Youth Leadership Summit. Arres said a highlight of the conference for him was witnessing the youth speak to John E. Echohawk about educational needs for Tribal nations.

Echohawk (Pawnee) is the Executive Director of the Native American Rights Fund. He was the first graduate of the University of New Mexico’s special program to train Indian lawyers and was a founding member of the American Indian Law Students Association while in law school. He has been with NARF since its inception in 1970, having served continuously as Executive Director since 1977.

Echohawk has been recognized as one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America by the National Law Journal and has received numerous service awards and other recognitions for his leadership in the Indian law field including the 2023 Thurgood Marshall Award from the American Bar Association.

Arres said he hopes the youth who attended the summit learned how to advocate for themselves and why that is so important. He was glad to be given the opportunity of some sightseeing when they had some free time so they could explore some of the monuments on their own.

The annual event is held in different locations each year. Campos was attending the summit for the first time and found a highlight to be watching the youth interact with Julian Garcia, assistant to US Rep. Juan Vargas, and hear them advocate for important issues across Indian country.

“I hope the youth learned from this experience the power their voices hold,” she said. “If youth were to work together to help advocate for issues that the Native community faces, I believe great things could be accomplished; the youth could bring needed change to the generations to come.”

Campos enjoyed sharing free time with the youth as they walked around the Washington Mall and visited the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, WW2 Memorial, the White House and Capitol Hill.”

High school senior Temet Guacheno attended sessions “Democracy is Indigenous,” “Environmental Sovereignty” and “Advocacy 101” and said he learned the importance of communication skills. “I enjoyed the workshops and meeting new people,” he said.

Kimani Sanchez, said she learned about the important issues affecting Native land, including the challenges Indigenous communities face in protecting their rights.

“I’ve also gained valuable skills in advocating for change by learning how to effectively communicate with representatives about issues that matter to me,” she said. “What I liked best about the conference was the opportunity to meet new people and make great connections. It was fun to build friendships with others who share similar interests while also learning about important issues. The combination of engaging discussions and a welcoming environment made the experience both educational and enjoyable.”

The Native Youth Leadership Summit is sponsored by the National Congress of American Indians. Founded in 1944, NCAI is the oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization serving the broad interests of tribal governments and communities.

NCAI, a nonprofit organization, advocates for a bright future for generations to come by taking the lead to gain consensus on a constructive and promising vision for Indian Country. Since its founding, NCAI has remained true to the original purpose of the organization: to be the unified voice of Tribal nations.

Alongside the Native Youth Leadership Summit, NCAI hosted its annual Executive Council Winter Session, which was attended by Soboba Tribal Council Chairman Isaiah Vivanco, Vice Chairwoman Geneva Mojado and attorney Loretta Tuell, a lobbyist for Soboba.

The NCAI Executive Council is one of NCAI’s three main governing bodies. This annual meeting presents an opportunity for Tribal delegates to hear from members of Congress and the Administration and helps to further the government-to-government relationship between Tribal Nations and the federal government.

Vivanco has been attending these meetings since he returned to Tribal Council in 2015. Mojado said she started going when she was first elected to Council in 2006, stating that Rosemary Morillo and she have always attended either the annual or midyear sessions.

“For me, our main focus was understanding how the new administration’s executive orders could impact us at home,” Vivanco said. “We also had the opportunity to work on Capitol Hill, engaging in discussion with many U.S. senators as well as congressional leaders, both Republican and Democrat. We were able to express to them our concerns with some of the executive orders as well as how it would impact Tribes. We need their support now more than ever. We are going to continue our outreach with congressional leaders to stress the importance of recognizing Tribes as sovereign nations while continuing to uphold their trust responsibility to us.”

Mojado said she enjoyed being able to have dinner with the TANF youth. “Even more so this time since Mr. Echohawk joined us and shared his story. It is always a pleasure to see Sharice Davids as well,” she said. “We have yet to see how this administration will work with Tribal Nations. It was nice to meet the newly appointed Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum.”

Vivanco said, “It’s always important for our youth to be exposed to organizations like NCAI, UNITY and AISES. NCAI provides a little more of a Tribal government atmosphere for them. I did get a chance to see them going to and from working sessions as I was doing the same. Aside from the networking, they are able to sit in on general session meetings and hear real time issues impacting all Natives. These are our future leaders and to get this type of firsthand experience is invaluable.”

Mojado agrees that it is very important for the youth to attend conferences such as UNITY and NCAI. “One, to inspire the future leaders and two, to see how Tribal governments unilaterally work with the United States government,” she said. “It is important for them to be in the know of how the federal government and states affect Tribes. We were inherent sovereigns before the United States was even born. We must continue to fight and educate about sovereignty.”

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This year’s United National Indian Tribal Youth Inc. conference was held in Minneapolis and 10 Soboba youth attended the five-day, youth-led event in July that attracted about 2,500 Native youth and advisors. The attendees, aged 12-17, are all participants in the Soboba Tribal TANF year-round LEAD prevention program that provides Leadership through Education, Acquirement, Desire.

While the youth leaders were busy with workshops and other activities, two advisors from the Soboba Tribal TANF Program who accompanied them, attended sessions that covered safety, provided conference updates and networked with other advisors.

“Attendance was higher at this year’s conference,” Senior Program Specialist Annalisa Tucker said. “We heard from amazing Native American women doing great things in Indian country.”

The UNITY Conference is an impactful event that offers general sessions, regional caucuses, workshops and a career/education fair. Fun evening activities provide hands-on leadership development activities where the National UNITY Council conducts elections and its annual business meeting. The national conference is a place where Native youth voice is encouraged and valued. This year’s theme was “Restoring the Spirit of Native Youth.”

Kimani Resvaloso-Sanchez, 13, attended the youth conference for the first time and enjoyed meeting new people and seeing new things. She said the group also got to do some sightseeing around the city that included a visit to the Mall of America.

“The best workshop would have to be the one about healthy relationships and mental health,” she said. She also learned that future generations will be affected by what is done now, just as how we are currently being affected by climate change that has been taking place for the past 20 years.

The conference offers unique youth programming through its UNITY Fire and UNITY Drum. The UNITY Fire, which is lit on the first day of the conference, burns 24/7 during the annual conference and is led by alumni fire keepers, is used for social and prayer purposes and has provided conference attendees an opportunity for support, healing and spiritual nourishment.

Warren Skye, Tonawanda Seneca Pine Tree Chief, said, “A fire burns within us and has so since the beginning of time. We must continue to strengthen it and keep it bright for generations to come.”

The fire is meant for all beliefs and religions to share their “Good Medicine” with other participants. The UNITY Drum, also led by alumni, is an open drum with roots in the southern style of powwow singing. All youth singers are encouraged to bring their drumsticks to join in.

Akwaalimay Resvaloso, 13, enjoyed learning new things about different cultures and places. A favorite workshop was one about leadership and plans are to share what was learned about communication and leadership skills at school and personally.

On opening day, participants were treated to a panel discussion on Indigenous actors in film with Kiowa Gordon, Dark Wind TV series; Stormee Lee Kipp, Predator 5: Prey; and Mato Wayuhi, composer for Reservation Dogs.

Also available on the three full days of the conference were optional Wellness Warriors fitness activities such as Zumba with Eileen Crocker, a one-mile walk with UNITY Executive Director Mary Kim Titla and a buddy fun run.

The keynote speaker on Saturday, July 9, which was deemed Physical Development Day, was Chef Pyet, the first winner of Gordon Ramsay’s groundbreaking television program, Next Level Chef. Stephanie DeSpain goes by Pyet, which is short for her inherited Native American name Pyetwetmokwe. She is an award-winning traveling private chef whose life’s work is dedicated to Indigenous Fusion Cuisine. Chef Pyet’s passion is to uplift Indigenous culture and traditions via storytelling, traveling and cooking. Her current focus is promoting Indigenous ingredients in everyday cooking. While doing so, she hopes to encourage others to pass along healthy cooking, lifestyle choices and traditions within their own families.

The following day’s focus was on Mental Development and offered the panel presentation, “Native Youth Research is Good Medicine” with Nicole Bowman, PhD., Bowman Performance Consulting and Gregory Phillips II, PhD, MS, Northwestern University, Chicago.

Morning and afternoon workshops covered a wide variety of subjects including foster care, lack of accurate Native American based education within the public-school curriculum, sexual health and wellness, cultural sovereignty, food as medicine, culture and language loss awareness and developing positive environments and health habits.

Categories with various presentations were career, culture, education, environment, health, leadership development and wellness and prevention among other important topics. “Cultivating Connections: The Importance of Nurturing Healthy Relationships Health” offered youth leaders information on the importance of engaging in healthy relationships early in life. It also included an overview on how to build and nurture healthy relationships, as well as the effects of unhealthy relationships on personal and professional growth.

The focus on Monday and Tuesday was Social Development and that included the Education and Career Expo Kick-off with a panel presentation, “Native Activism Then and Now” moderated by Evynn Richardson and Lily Painter, featuring Winona LaDuke, Madonna Thunder Hawk and Judith LeBlanc.

Many of these workshops focused on career and financial literacy as well as animals, the transformative power of art and building steps to becoming a successful Tribal leader. “What is your legacy?” was led by Eileen Crocker. She helped youth discover their inherent abilities to cultivate their own legacy. She guided them in their journey as she shared her own life’s experiences. The skills taught are ones that they can use each day to feel a sense of empowerment.

Before the conference officially ended at noon on Tuesday, July 12, keynote speaker James Anderson provided a final message to the young leaders. As a trainer, speaker and co-founder of the LifeSkills Center for Leadership, Anderson is one of the nation’s leading authorities on peak performance and personal development. During the past 20 years, he has worked with businesses, Tribal organizations, universities and high schools sharing the skills that it takes to be successful in today’s world. He also owns and operates the award-winning Old Southern BBQ restaurants in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

UNITY’s midyear conference will be Feb. 24-26, 2023 in Tempe, Ariz. and the national youth conference is scheduled for June 30-July 4 in Washington, D.C.

For more information, please visit www.unityinc.org.

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