Our Citizen's Forum: A Positive Shoutout for the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony’s Unity Youth Group

An anonymous contribution shared with Our Town Reno with this photo.

“Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with a member of the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony’s Unity Youth Group. They shared with me the kind of work Unity does within their community, and I wanted to share some of what I found especially impactful.

I learned that UNITY stands for United National Indian Tribal Youth. It is a national organization based in Oklahoma that was established in 1976. Since then, UNITY has grown to include more than 320 youth councils across more than 36 states. Among these councils is one right here in Reno, Nevada, through the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, one that I believe deserves recognition for the work its young members are doing.

The RSIC UNITY Youth Council consists of more than 50 members and follows UNITY’s mission of fostering the spiritual, mental, physical, and social development of Indigenous youth. One of the group’s main goals is to encourage leadership among young people and help prepare them to become leaders within their communities.

During my research, I came across two messages that particularly stood out to me. One is a phrase shared with UNITY youth, “You are not the future leaders of tomorrow; you are the leaders of today.” Another is the reminder, “You are your ancestors’ wildest dreams.” I believe these messages capture what makes youth leadership so meaningful. They remind young people that their voices and ideas have value today, not just someday in the future.

 What also stood out to me about UNITY is its emphasis on youth advocacy. Members are encouraged to recognize that they have a voice and that they should use it. Young people are often affected by decisions being made within their communities, yet their perspectives are often overlooked. UNITY encourages its members to speak up, participate in those conversations, and advocate for the issues that matter to them and their communities.

 The RSIC UNITY Youth Council also faces criticism from some elders within its community and from people in neighboring tribes. While respectful disagreement and constructive feedback can be valuable, criticism that becomes rude, personal, or malicious, is unfair to the young people doing this work. Youth should not be discouraged or attacked simply for using their voices, learning to lead, and contributing to their communities.

 As Native people, we should strive to support one another rather than tear each other down. Our communities have already faced generations of outside efforts to divide and weaken us. We should not continue that harm among ourselves, especially toward young people who are working to build stronger communities. Elders and community members can guide youth while still treating them with respect, patience, and encouragement. Disagreement does not have to become hostility, and accountability does not require cruelty.

 The RSIC UNITY Youth Council is an example of young people actively taking part in their community and developing the skills to become strong leaders. Their work is a reminder that youth leadership is not simply about preparing for the future—it is about giving young people the opportunity to contribute, advocate, and make a difference right now.

   I believe the young people involved in the RSIC UNITY Youth Council deserve recognition for their commitment to their community, their willingness to use their voices, and their dedication to carrying their communities forward. They also deserve the support and respect of the people around them as they continue learning, growing, and leading as an example for other native youth.”