BRAID Community Gathering

Dear friends and community members,

We invite you to join us on Sunday, February 8, 2026, from 1-4 pm, at the famed Fowler Museum at the University of California, Los Angeles, for an afternoon of community and generosity in support of incarcerated American Indian & Indigenous relatives. The event will be hosted by UCLA American Indian Studies Center’s BRAID Program (Books & Resources for American Indians in Detention), and is co-sponsored by UCLA’s Bruin Underground Scholars Program. Hear directly from members of the American Indian community who have been incarcerated and from Shannon Rivers, a Native American Spiritual Leader, human rights activist, and cultural advisor.

This gathering will create space to hear stories of struggle and resilience and enact tangible ways communities can care for our incarcerated relatives. The program will also include an opening prayer, music and dance, Native American vendors and resource booths, and a guided tour of the Fowler Museum’s Fire Kinship exhibit.

Our hope is that attendees will bring their slightly used books to donate to BRAID, to be sent directly to incarcerated individuals. We are also seeking financial donations to support BRAIDS ongoing work, as well as contributions to support Native American Spiritual Leaders providing cultural and spiritual guidance inside prisons.

Please find the official event page and RSVP link here: