1,800+ Native youth launch first-of-its-kind wellness app at the National UNITY Conference
This week more than 1,800 Native American youth and advisors from throughout the U.S. will do just that at the National UNITY Conference at the Colorado Convention Center from July 6 - 10.The Wellness Warrior App is made possible thanks to a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
- Denver, CO (1888PressRelease) July 12, 2017 - Denver, Colorado – Imagine downloading an app designed to help you track wellness from a cultural perspective - fitness through cultural dance, healthy eating with traditional Native foods, and more.The free app may be downloaded via the App Store or Play Store.
“We hope all of Indian country will join UNITY in its effort to transform lives through this wellness app. This app will encourage Native youth to interact with each other in a way we’ve never seen before. They will be able to share how they stay fit through traditional games and share recipes of healthy traditional foods, how they aspire to be wellness warriors,” said Mary Kim
The National UNITY Conference’s five-day agenda focuses on a youth developed theme “Finding wellness and healing within our cultures.”Native youth, who provided input during app development, will discuss issues important to them including culture and language preservation, bullying, and suicide prevention. Native youth face challenges as all American youth do but statistics show many social is-sues such as suicide, drug abuse, teen pregnancy, and high school dropout rate are dangerously amplified.
As is tradition, UNITY youth leaders will serve as peer leaders during the conference.
Many of the Native youth attendees are part of the National UNITY Council Network representing the 165 affiliated youth councils from 36 states. UNITY is the only national organization with such a network. During the conference youth representatives of affiliated youth councils will gather as the National UNITY Council for its annual business meeting to elect new officers known as the Executive Committee presenting ten U.S, regions.All members of the Executive Committee are between the ages of 14 and 24.
The conference will kick off with a ceremonial lighting of the UNITY Fire on Thurs-day, July 6 at 5:15 pm. The UNITY Fire,which will burn 24-hours during the conference, serves as a safe space for youth who wish to share cultural songs or who need someone to talk to. All conference activities including keynotes and workshops focus on UNITY’S core areas of spiritual, physical, social, and mental development.
Featured keynote speakers include Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Chairman David Archambault, former Vice Chairwoman of the Tulalip Tribes Deborah Parker, Ki-owa/Choctaw Filmmaker and Artist Stephen Paul Judd, Navajo/Lakota Actor Tatanka Means, Wellness Advocates Thosh Collins (Tribe), Chelsea Luger (Tribe) and Lovina Louie (Couer d’Alene/Oklanagan and Lakes Band of the Colville Confederated Tribes).
In addition, for a third year in four years, the National UNITY Conference will fea-ture a Taiwan Indigenous youth delegation who are members of the Vox Nativa Choir. Taiwanis believed to be the homeland of the Austronesian people. In Taiwan, there are 16 Indigenous ethnicities. Those attending the National UNITY Conference will represent the Amis, Bunun, and Paiwan people.
Awards to be presented at the 2017National UNITY Conference are Youth Council of the Year, Alumni of the Year Award, J.R. Cook Advisor of the Year Award, Golda Cook Memorial Scholarships and Cook Native American Ministries Foundation Scholarships.
For 41 years the National UNITY Conference has brought Native Youth Leaders to cities all across the United States to participate in a drug and alcohol free setting. The youth led five-day conference includes a packed agenda with motivational messages, team-building exercises, health and fitness activities, a cultural exchange and talent show, workshops, celebration banquet and dance, and closing commitment ceremony as the UNITY fire is extinguished.
About UNITY, Inc.
United National Indian Tribal Youth, Inc. (UNITY) is a national network organization promoting personal development, citizenship, and leadership among Native Youth. UNITY's 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. Alaska Native villages, high schools, colleges, urban centers, and others sponsor youth councils. Please visit www.unityinc.org to learn more about getting involved with UNITY as a youth, advisor, alum, partner, or sponsor.
Contact:
Jason Coochwytewa
Phone No: 602 481 6952
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