Fifteen students from the Seminole Tribe ventured out to Portland, Oregon, for the 2024 National UNITY Conference from June 29 to July 3.

The students were accompanied by Education Department staff, including K-12 program manager Reginal Belizaire, and education advisors Martha Santibanez and Dana Osceola. Big Cypress Councilwoman Marriann Billie, Miss Florida Seminole Thomlynn Billie and Jr. Miss Seminole Tahnia Billie also attended the conference with the students.

UNITY, which stands for United National Indian Tribal Youth, is an organization whose focus is to help and benefit tribal youth around the United States.

Students heard from a variety of speakers, including Dr. Evan Adams, Coast Salish from the Sliammon First Nation and an Indigenous Canadian actor, playwright, and physician; Governor Stephen Roe Lewis from Gila River Indian Community; fashion designer Norma Baker-Flying Horse; disc jockey Emcee One, and Taboo, a member of the Grammy award-winning group The Black Eyed Peas. The students experienced several workshop sessions while attending a general session. Some sessions pertained to health, culture, environment, career, education and mental health.

One benefit of the conference was that the tribe’s students had opportunities to interact with other Native students from different parts of the country.

“I think it allows them to create a vision of what their future will be like,” said Belizaire.

Belizaire went on to speak about the opportunities the students gained from attending the national UNITY conference and learn about the differences that other tribal youth face outside of the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

The students that attended the National Unity Conference were Adeline Garcia, Angel Stewart, EvaRay Stewart, CeCe Thomas, Chaka Smith, Eric Puente II , Gregory James II, Jonah Garcia, Mia Herrera, Shyla Herrera, Miley Jimmie, Jr. Miss Seminole Tahnia Billie, Willo James, Miss Florida Seminole Thomlynn Billie, and Zach Riley.