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, Arziona under the direction of Mary Kim Titla serving as Executive Director.

UNITY evolved from a series of Indian programs that Cook directed. After a successful basketball coaching stint, Cook devoted a decade of his life to the Upward Bound project at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, Oklahoma. At that time, it seemed to Cook there was more pressure for Indian youth to fail than to succeed. He became aware of the tremendous waste of talent and negative peer pressure among native youth and saw a need for an organization to help Native youth use their talents in a positive way. Cook began working with the Weatherford community to purchase and renovate a building that housed the Southwest Indian Cultural Center. Through the center, a dropout prevention and cultural retention education grant was received to work with students in 10 public schools in western Oklahoma.

The project was so successful - especially in regard to a marked increase in self-esteem among participants - that youth in the project authorized Cook to take the necessary steps to expand these efforts to regional and national levels. On April 16, 1976, United National Indian Tribal Youth, Inc. was incorporated as a non-profit organization in the state of Oklahoma to develop leadership among native American youth. UNITY relocated its headquarters in 1978 to Oklahoma City.

One of the first milestones for UNITY youth came at the 1980 National UNITY Conference in Great Falls, Mont. Youth shaped their future by writing a "Declaration for Independence" to take charge of their destiny. Youth pledged to be involved in the governmental decision-making process and promote economic development. The "Declaration" gained national attention in Paul Harvey's daily commentary.

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.

Testimonials

UNITY Participant Quotes from the Survey Question:
"What did you learn that will help you the most in your community?

Nizhoni - High School Youth, Sac and Fox Nation, Navajo Nation (Diné), Hopi Tribe
Self care is important to be the best "you".

Kennise - High School Youth, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
To be confident with who I am.

Richard - High School Youth, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
Different things we can do not only for our community but just as a youth council during these tough times, to stay connected and still have an impact.

Kiyasha - High School Youth, San Carlos Apache Tribe
Ways to help our community during the pandemic.

Angel - High School Youth, Gila River Indian Community
Taking time out of your day to relax but to come back and be ready to make progress, not to hinder.

LaDonna - High School Youth, Hopi Tribe
I learned that even with a disability I am able to achieve accomplishments that I set for myself. Also that we have to start making our voices heard now, not when our elders and adults are gone.

Laurina - High School Youth, San Carlos Apache Tribe
Leadership and becoming a role model.

Tyler - Advisor, Navajo Nation (Diné)
Continue doing the work I am doing to help bring awareness of suicide in Indian country.

Elodia - High School Youth, Pascua Yaqui Tribe
To be involved and not be ashamed of who you are.

Pascuala - College Youth, Pascua Yaqui Tribe/ Tohono O'odham Nation
I learned that we all need to be there for each other and it starts with yourself and bettering our mental health.

Lauren - College Youth, San Carlos Apache
The enthusiasm given, giving us the self esteem to make changes within our community.

Steve - College Youth, San Carlos Apache Tribe Youth Council
Ways to participate to help our community during pandemic...