The remaining 13 members, of the UNITY Earth Ambassadors class of 2015 – 2016, were announced during the recent National UNITY Conference. This brings the size of the class to 25. The new Earth Ambassadors are:

• Henry Birk Albert (Koyukon Athabaskan)
• Kristine Baker (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians)
• SuSun Fisher (Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians)
• Mariah Gladstone (Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma)
• Wyatt Goggles (Eastern Shoshone)
• Kenaba Hatathlie (Navajo)
• Jessica McCool (Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians)
• Xavier Medina (Pascua Yaqui)
• Nadira Mitchell (Navajo)
• Ryan Stiffarm (San Carlos Apache/Acoma/Gros Ventre)
• Rory Wheeler (Seneca Nation of Indians)
• Tomas WhiteAntelope (Northern Arapaho/Lummi)
• Erica Woody (Navajo)

Congratulations to all member of the class!

UNITY congratulates and introduces the first thirteen members of our re-established UNITY Earth Ambassadors Leadership Program. The environmental stewardship program, which began in the 1990’s, made its return this year with funding assistance from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community! 

Introducing the First 13 Members of the 2015 Class of UNITY Earth Ambassadors:

Henry Birk Albert, 16, Koyukon Athabaskan

Koyukon Athabascan of The Tribe of Ruby, AK

I am Birk Albert, age 16, Koyukon Athabascan and an enrolled member of The Native Village of Ruby. I was raised in roadless Alaska by the Yukon River in a small village of 170 residents. My family lives a subsistence life in a log house heated only with wood heat and no plumbing. My dad is one of the last traditional snowshoe builders. I attended a school with about 40 students in K to 12. I enjoy creative writing (GenIzine.blogspot.com) and studying history as well as outdoor activities in the Adirondack woods.

I learned never to give up from my dad and his family and my mother taught me empathy and the value of impacting the lives of others. My future will always have me giving back to Alaska and my Native community. I want to be a good ancestor. I am humbled to be chosen as an Earth Ambassador as well as invited to the first White House Tribal Youth Gathering. I may now be raised by more than one village, but I have UNITY to thank for introducing me to other Tribal Youth peers across America.

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Mesa, AZ – The United National Indian Tribal Youth, Inc. (UNITY) has announced the first thirteen members of its re-established UNITY Earth Ambassadors Leadership Program. The environmental stewardship program was started in the 1990’s, but due to funding challenges, was suspended until this year when the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community agreed to provide partial funding for its return.

The new class will attend training sessions and informational workshops to increase their knowledge of environmental issues affecting Native America, learn to serve as an ambassador to increase awareness of the issues affecting the environmental quality on Native lands, and promote the efforts to address environmental concerns within the nation’s Native communities. Topics will focus on, but not limited to, recycling, conservation, regeneration, and restoration.

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Applications Now Being Accepted for the UNITY Earth Ambassador Program. Apply online HERE.