Sarah Schilling

Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians

Age: 23

Petoskey, MI

After participating in and learning about youth-led efforts at a National Congress of American Indians conference, Sarah was inspired to develop her tribe’s first youth council in 2009.

Together with her tribal council, peers, and youth programs in the community, Sarah organized and created the youth council’s mission statement, constitution, bylaws, and code of conduct. She also worked to establish an affiliation with United National Indian Tribal Youth (UNITY), Inc., an association of Native youth councils across the United States. Under Sarah’s leadership, the youth council hosted retreats, talking circles and other events to address underage drinking prevention, anti-bullying and suicide prevention.

Sarah now attends Eastern Michigan University where she is earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts. She hopes to use artwork as a tool to educate people on various topics concerning Native communities as well as a tool for self-expression. Outside of classroom, Sarah serves as president of the Native American Student Association on campus and is involved with local environmental activism.