MASHANTUCKET, Conn. (July 2, 2026) — The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation is honored to serve as the Presenting Sponsor of UNITY’s 50th Anniversary Celebration at the 2026 National UNITY Conference, taking place July 10– 14 in Oklahoma City. The milestone gathering will bring together thousands of Native youth, advisors, and tribal leaders to celebrate five decades of United National Indian Tribal Youth, Inc. (UNITY) and its mission to develop the next generation of Native leadership. Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Youth have attended this conference consistently for many years, which has proven to be an invaluable experience for them as well as the Tribe.
“UNITY has spent fifty years empowering Native youth with the skills, confidence, and sense of purpose needed to become strong leaders in their communities,” said Rodney Butler, Chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. “At Mashantucket, we believe that investing in our young people is one of the most important investments we can make because they are the future stewards of our Tribal Nations, our cultures, and our communities.
“We are proud to support the National UNITY Conference because it creates opportunities for Native youth from across Indian Country to connect, learn from one another, and develop the leadership skills needed to meet the challenges of tomorrow. Our hope is that the next generation carries forward a deep respect for their heritage, a commitment to serving their communities, and the confidence to lead with integrity, compassion, and vision. When Native youth are empowered to succeed, they strengthen not only their own Nations, but the future of Indian Country as a whole.”
The Tribe’s sponsorship reflects a long-standing belief that the future of Indian Country depends on its youth culturally grounded, well-educated, and connected to one another across tribal nations. Supporting UNITY’s 50th Anniversary is one part of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation’s broader commitment to Native youth, including ongoing investment in education, health, and leadership development for tribal communities nationwide.
As UNITY celebrates this milestone, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation looks forward to standing alongside Native youth from across the country as they step into the next fifty years of leadership.