UC Davis Big Time

Join us to support the Native American Retention Initiative (NARI) Support Fund

Big Time is a ceremonial gathering that honors California Native peoples through traditional song, drum, and feather dance practices unique to the tribes of this region. Rooted in generations of cultural resilience, Big Time serves as a vital space for sustaining Native identity, strengthening community connections, and affirming tribal sovereignty. As the first gathering of its kind hosted by a University of California campus, Big Time represents a significant investment in the visibility, preservation, and celebration of California Native cultural traditions.

Held at UC Davis, on the ancestral lands of the Patwin people, Big Time brings together Native students, tribal communities, elders, cultural practitioners, and campus audiences in a shared celebration of living Native traditions. The event creates meaningful educational opportunities that deepen understanding of Indigenous histories, cultures, and contemporary experiences while fostering respectful engagement between the university and Tribal Nations.

This community-centered gathering also plays a critical role in supporting Native student recruitment, retention, and belonging. By creating opportunities for cultural connection and visibility, Big Time helps Native students see themselves reflected in the campus community while strengthening relationships between UC Davis and local tribal communities.

Funding will support honoraria for dancers, drum groups, and cultural leaders, travel and lodging assistance, food and hospitality, event logistics, accessibility efforts, and community outreach. Sustained investment in Big Time demonstrates UC Davis's commitment to Native communities and ensures this important cultural tradition continues to thrive for future generations.