American Indian Recruitment and Retention

POV: You finally have a stage for your niche internet obsessions. 🧠🔥

😅Ever seen a TikTok so chaotic it permanently altered your brain chemistry? Or a meme so specific you can’t even explain why it’s funny? Now is your time to shine!
Join AIRR for Present Your Brainrot Night—the ultimate informal show-and-tell. Whether it’s deep-fried memes, 2012 classics, or the latest viral fever dream, bring your favorites and find your people.😌
🗓️ THE DEETS:
WHEN: Thursday, May 28th, 2026
TIME: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
WHERE: The Nest Main Room
> We’re here for the laughs, but let’s keep it school-appropriate!

Image description:
A flyer with a light beige background. At the top-left, the AIRR (American Indian Recruitment & Retention) logo is visible, and on the top-right is the UC Davis Student Health and Counseling Services logo.
Below the logos, large, reddish-pink text reads, “AIRR presents: Present Your BRAINROT NIGHT.”
The flyer includes the following text in dark brown: “Think of it as an informal presentation night meets the ultimate internet show-and-tell. We all have those niche memes, chaotic TikToks, or viral videos that have altered our brain chemistry, shaped who we are, or just make us laugh until we cry. Now is your chance to share them with your people!”
Event details follow: “Thursday, May 28th, 2026,” “4:00-6:00pm,” and “Location: The Nest Main Room.”
The bottom section features a variety of meme images:
A close-up of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
A chocolate Labrador.
The “Three Spider-Men pointing” meme.
The “Sometimes I say idk and be knowing” grape meme.
In the center is a graphic illustration of a hand pointing at a smartphone screen that displays small images of a purse, another dog, and a man smiling. The flyer is framed with abstract reddish-pink curved lines.

❤️While May 5th marks the official day of remembrance, the reality of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP) crisis is a burden carried by our communities every single day. At UC Davis, we dedicated this week not just to awareness, but to active honoring and reminding the world that these are not just statistics, but our relatives.

We remember them in every step we take, in every song we sing, and in every prayer we offer. This movement doesn’t end when the banners are put away; we carry their names and their stories with us always.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who showed up, spoke up, and walked with us. Your presence and support mean everything as we continue to advocate for justice, safety, and healing. ❤️🌹


Image description:
Intro: A deep red flyer for UC Davis MMIP Week, featuring logos for NASU, The Nest, and AIRR.

May 5, 2026 (MMIP Day): Students participate in the UC Davis MMIP Walk wearing red clothing and symbolic red handprint masks. Participants are shown carrying advocacy signs, tying red ribbons to campus fixtures, and gathering in the Quad.

May 6, 2026: Students and community members gather at the California State Capitol in Sacramento for the Annual Candlelight Vigil. Group photos show participants standing in solidarity in front of the illuminated Capitol building at sunset.

May 14, 2026: The UC Davis MMIP Vigil featuring a long banner of names held by students. The event includes a traditional drum circle and a ceremonial performance by Danza Azteca dancers in feathered regalia. A final photo shows a hand holding a white rose.

❤️While May 5th marks the official day of remembrance, the reality of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP) crisis is a burden carried by our communities every single day. At UC Davis, we dedicated this week not just to awareness, but to active honoring and reminding the world that these are not just statistics, but our relatives.

We remember them in every step we take, in every song we sing, and in every prayer we offer. This movement doesn’t end when the banners are put away; we carry their names and their stories with us always.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who showed up, spoke up, and walked with us. Your presence and support mean everything as we continue to advocate for justice, safety, and healing. ❤️✊🏽🌹

JusticeForIndigenousPeoples

Intro: A deep red flyer for UC Davis MMIP Week, featuring logos for NASU (Native American Student Union), The Nest, and AIRR (American Indian Recruitment and Retention).

May 5, 2026 (MMIP Day): Students participate in the UC Davis MMIP Walk wearing red clothing and symbolic red handprint masks. Participants are shown carrying advocacy signs, tying red ribbons to campus fixtures, and gathering in the Quad.

May 6, 2026: Students and community members gather at the California State Capitol in Sacramento for the Annual Candlelight Vigil. Group photos show participants standing in solidarity in front of the illuminated Capitol building at sunset.

May 14, 2026: The UC Davis MMIP Vigil featuring a long banner of names held by students. The event includes a traditional drum circle and a ceremonial performance by Danza Azteca dancers in feathered regalia. A final photo shows a hand holding a white rose.

ENVISION YOUR FUTURE with AIRR ✨✂️

Calling all of our amazing community members, and a huge shoutout to our Seniors! 🎓 As graduation approaches, it’s time to manifest the next chapter. Join AIRR for our Vision Board & Scrapbooking Workshop - the perfect space to ground your dreams and visualize your post-grad life.

If you haven’t made it to a program yet this year, this is the one to attend! This is a beautiful opportunity to soak up those last moments of community, share space, and create something meaningful together before the semester ends.

Whether you’re looking to map out your career, your travels, or your personal growth, let’s get those visions onto paper! 🔖

When: Friday, May 29th, 2026 🤩
Time: 12:00pm – 2:30pm
Where: Native Nest (University House)

Perks: Food and drinks provided! 🥡🥤

⭐️All materials and books are provided, but feel free to bring your own personal scraps or photos to add that extra touch.🖍️

RSVP via the QR code in the slide! Don’t miss out on one of our final chances to be in community this year. See you there! 🧡



Image Description:
A vibrant, vision board and collage-style event flyer with a pink background featuring a geometric diamond pattern at the top and bottom.

The top of the flyer is decorated with scrapbooking elements: a stack of colorful books, scissors, tape, glue, and a small open scrapbook. To the right, there are illustrations of two Indigenous dancers in traditional regalia and a circular artwork of a bird.

The central text reads: "AIRR Presents: Vision Board & Scrapbooking Workshop. ‘ENVISION YOUR FUTURE’."
”Event Details: Friday, May 29th, 2026. 12pm–2:30pm at the Native Nest.

The bottom section includes a QR code for RSVPing and notes that food, drinks, and materials will be provided. Decorative elements at the bottom include a butterfly, a sun, a pressed flower, and an illustration of two people holding a banner that says "DEFEND NATIVE LAND.”

Feeling so incredibly inspired after an amazing weekend of connection, culture, and growth at the Native Youth Empowerment Conference 2026. 💙 This year’s theme, “Weaving Pathways of Education and Identity,” came to life in the most powerful ways from hands-on workshops to powerful speakers and cultural activities. 🌿 It was an honor to see our next generation building bridges between education, heritage, and leadership.

Massive thank you to all the amazing presenters, volunteers, and programs. You made this event possible. Swipe through to see the highlights! 👉🏽 CulturalIdentity OurNextGen

Image Description:
This 7 slide carousel consists of a collection of photos and graphics recapping the Native Youth Empowerment Conference 2026. The visual theme features a deep blue background with textured gold accents and the conference title, “Weaving Pathways of Education and Identity.” The imagery includes a graphic of traditional Indigenous weaving tools, a woven basket, and a colorful textile pattern.

The photos document various conference highlights: a handmade “Welcome” banner decorated with colorful handprints, a basket of custom conference buttons, and students engaged in collaborative workshops and group discussions within a large lecture hall. One slide shows a presentation on “Indigenous Leadership Skills,” while another displays an interactive wall where attendees wrote responses to the prompt, “Beyond the land acknowledgment... what do you love about the land we are on?” Additional photos capture the community atmosphere, showing volunteers in light blue event t-shirts serving meals at an outdoor buffet and students smiling together during social breaks on the UC Davis campus.

🪶We are still thinking about UC Davis’ 50th Annual Powwow! Check out these amazing photos sent in by UC Davis students, staff and near by community members!

Image description:
A photo carousel displaying a recent gathering at UC Davis 50th Annual Powwow brought the community together to celebrate Indigenous culture. Photos display multiple generations participated in the Powwow, showcasing traditional regalia, dance, and music in the arena. Participants wearing elaborate, feathered jingle dresses and bustles performed dynamic, vibrant dances. An honored elder and Gourd Society dancers, holding fans and wearing traditional sashes, led the ceremonies. Also displayed is informational booths where organizers offered snacks and details on academic programs. A prominent jumbotron display also honored the memory of a cherished community member. Rows of blue chairs held spectators and served as places of rest for the participants.

❤️ On May 5th, we wear red. Join the Native American Student Union (NASU) and American Indian Recruitment & Retention (AIRR) in honoring National Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Awareness Day.

MMIP (Missing and Murdered Indigenous People) is an ongoing crisis. Indigenous communities face disproportionately high rates of violence, yet their cases are often invisible to the media and the justice system. By wearing red, we are creating visibility and demanding action.

The red handprint, seen in the images above, is a powerful symbol of this movement. It represents being silenced and erased—an experience felt by too many. On May 5th, we break the silence.

Show your solidarity. Wear red.

Image description:
Image 1
A red graphic flyer featuring a profile illustration of an Indigenous woman with dark hair and a large geometric earring. The text reads “MAY 5 WEAR RED” alongside a message to honor and bring awareness to murdered and missing Indigenous people. The logos for NASU and AIRR appear at the bottom with the hashtag , and a black banner identifies the date as National Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Awareness Day.

Image 2
An informational flyer titled “UNDERSTAND THE SYMBOLS.” It features a black-and-white photo of children from the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians with red handprints painted over their mouths. A text block explains that the handprint represents being silenced or unheard. The flyer includes the tribal seal, a large red handprint graphic, and the hashtags and MMIW.

❤️Join us for the MMIP Red Walk on May 5th to honor those we have lost and to bring light to a crisis that is too often ignored.

🚩MMIP (Missing and Murdered Indigenous People) is an ongoing epidemic. Indigenous communities face disproportionately high rates of violence, yet these cases frequently receive little media coverage or investigative urgency. We walk to demand visibility, justice, and safety for our community members.

No registration is required, just show up and walk with us.

Date: May 5th
Time: 2 PM – 4 PM
Location: Starting and ending at The Nest
Note: Refreshments will be provided.

Be seen for those who aren’t‼️

Image Description:

A vertical flyer with a warm orange and red gradient background. Centered is a large, solid red dress, which is a widely recognized symbol for the MMIP movement. Behind the dress is a dark circular motif featuring red handprints and geometric patterns.

Text on the flyer reads:

Top: “MMIP RED WALK” in large white block letters.

Middle: “May 5th, 2pm – 4pm. Starting and ending at The Nest with refreshments.”

Bottom Section: “Join a walk around campus to promote awareness of missing and murdered indigenous people!”

Footer: A black bar at the very bottom contains the white text, “Be seen for those who aren’t.”

Logos for the Native American Student Union (NASU) and American Indian Recruitment & Retention (AIRR) are positioned in the top left and right corners, respectively. Red handprints are also scattered artistically across the background.

We are thrilled to announce that the Native Book Club is continuing for the Spring Quarter of 2026! 📚🧡

This quarter, we will continue reading and discussing the powerful novel Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley (the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Firekeeper’s Daughter). We invite all students, staff, and faculty to join us for engaging conversations and community.

🗓️ When: Tuesdays, 1-2 PM (Starting this Spring Quarter)
📍 Where: The Nest Conference Room
📧 Contact: Jamie Belone at [email protected] for more information.

See you there!

Image description:
A flyer for the Native Book Club’s Spring Quarter 2026. The center features the book cover of “Warrior Girl Unearthed” by Angeline Boulley, which depicts a young Indigenous woman framed by warm celestial circles and earthy illustrations.

The flyer is burnt orange with dark green accents and leaf line art. Text indicates meetings are held on Tuesdays from 1-2 PM in The Nest Conference Room. The event is supported by AIRR (American Indian Recruitment & Retention), and contact information for Jamie Belone at UC Davis is provided in the bottom right.

☀️📸Celebrating with a glimpse of this year’s Native Student Leadership Day-treat with our amazing community members! Swipe to check it out!

Image description:
A four-slide carousel documenting a community event, featuring orange and white chevron patterns and a light blue cover.

Slide 1 (Cover): Against a light blue background, a blue line-art illustration of a traditional beaded necklace sits at the top. Overlaid in bold orange and blue text are the words: “NATIVE STUDENT LEADERSHIP DAY-TREAT Winter QTR 2026 RECAP.”

Slide 2: A collage of four photos on an orange chevron background showing students gathered in a lounge area. They are engaged in discussions, listening to a presentation, and participating in group activities.

Slide 3: Another photo collage on the orange chevron background. It includes images of students talking in a circle, holding up a large patterned blanket, and gathered around tables.

Slide 4: The final collage shows students engaged in hands-on activities like beading or crafting at round tables. One photo shows a student hugging a large tree trunk outside, and the final group photo shows the participants smiling together indoors.
We shared new facts about ourselves, made new friendships and strengthened our connections. From sharing laughs, to touring new spaces on campus, having lunch, reconnecting with nature to beading necklaces for each other it is safe to say the day was packed with positive vibes.