United National Indian Tribal Youth, Inc. (UNITY, Inc)

The UNITY Mission is to foster the spiritual, mental, physical, and social development of American Indian and Alaska Native youth and to help build a strong, unified, and self-reliant Native America through greater youth involvement.

UNITY Defined: UNITY is a national network organization promoting personal development, citizenship, and leadership among Native American youth.

UNITY has an impressive track record of empowering and serving American Indian and Alaska Native youth. UNITY is well regarded among the nation's Native American organizations, tribal leaders, and government officials.

UNITY began through the efforts of the late J.R. Cook, a Cherokee from Oklahoma, who worked with Native youth in leadership development for more than three decades. The organization grew from a small group of interested Indian youth in southwestern Oklahoma in 1976 to a national organization today with affiliated youth councils operating in 35 states and Canada. Since 2013 UNITY is headquartered in Mesa, Arizona under the direction of Mary Kim Titla serving as Executive Director.

Today, Native American youth across the country are taking charge of their lives by serving others. They are helping their reservations, villages and communities by establishing tutoring programs, dance troupes, clean up days, healthy lifestyles campaigns, to name a few. Native American youth are making a difference in the areas of community service, heritage, healthy lifestyles and environment.

Voices

UNITY National Conference Attendee Quotes from the Survey Question:
"What did you learn that will help you the most in your community and Advocacy?

Allen - Fort Hall Youth Council, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, Northwest  Region, 18 

"I learned that even though we’re just young people, we can still make changes. We are the voices of tomorrow and we need to use our power to make change in our communities."

Macy Rae - Natural Helpers Youth Council, Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, Great Plains Region, 16 

"I learned that I can make a difference in my community and that it only takes one voice to make a difference." 

Autumn - Beauty Way FHS NAC,  Navajo, Western Region, 18

"That we as Native youth, have to take care of Mother Earth because we are just visitors to this earth and are just taking care of it the best we can. I also learned that we can work with UNITY to help us with community service because they always encourage us to do our best with getting as much community service as we can, so thank you UNITY for the teachings."

Ho’wesh - Northern Cheyenne Youth Council, Northern Cheyenne, Rocky Mountain Region, 16

"I learned how to cultivate knowledge and spread it throughout my community."

Jesse - Nooksack Youth Council, Nooksack Indian Tribe, Northwest Region, Advisor 25+

"We are all one voice and stand together ."