Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal citizen Dasia Peters traveled to Suquamish, Washington, last week after being selected to participate in Native Action Network's 2026 Young Native Women's Leadership Academy. Held October 27-30 at the Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort near Seattle, the gathering brought together emerging Native women leaders from across the country.

The academy, established in 2010, creates space for young Indigenous women ages 18 to 25 to learn alongside one another and connect with Native women leaders and elders. Participants explore leadership, community advocacy, career development and Tribal sovereignty, sharing ideas they can carry back to their own communities. The academy takes place alongside Native Action Network's annual Native Women's Leadership Forum.

Dasia shared on social media about being selected and traveling west to Suquamish territory. She wrote that she was 'Very proud to represent our Wampanoag people & the eastern woodlands region out on the west coast in Suquamish territory,' and looked forward to bringing teachings home to Mashpee.

Many in our community know Dasia from her years of involvement with the Tribe. She previously served as our Powwow Princess, graduated cum laude from Bridgewater State University in 2024 with a degree in communications and a minor in Indigenous Studies, and was named one of UNITY's 2024 25 Under 25 Native youth leaders. She was also selected for the 2023 Native Youth Grantmakers program through Native Americans in Philanthropy, where young Native leaders take part in decisions supporting Indigenous communities.

We're proud to see Dasia representing our Wampanoag people and the Eastern Woodlands region among other young Native leaders. Just as important is the intention she shared before leaving: to bring what she learns back home, where it can help strengthen the next generation of leadership in Mashpee.