Touted as the World's Largest Gathering of Native Americans is Underway

Steve Mohan in Native Currents. Discussion »

ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO – The world's largest Native American Cultural Event, the 29th Annual Gathering of Nations powwow, will host tens of thousands of people and more than 500 tribes from throughout the United States, Canada, and around the world this weekend.

University of New Mexico Arena

The three day event will include more than 3,000 traditional Native American singers and dancers competing in 32 dance categories, and more than 800 Native American artisans, craftsmen and traders displaying and selling their work. In addition, 36 indigenous bands will be performing a wide variety of musical genres. Vendors in the Native Food Court will offer guests a large selection of food choices ranging between southwestern style cuisine and traditional Native American fare.

The much anticipated "Grand Entry," where thousands of Native American dancers simultaneously enter the arena dressed in colorful outfits to the sounds of hundreds of beating drums, begins at noon. The Grand Entry will be repeated Friday evening at 7 pm and on Saturday, at 12 noon and 6 pm.

As part of the Gathering of Nations, Miss Indian World will be crowned and represent native and indigenous people as a cultural goodwill ambassador. As one of the largest and most prestigious cultural pageants, 28 Native American and indigenous women representing their different tribes and traditions will compete in the areas of tribal knowledge, dancing ability, and personality assessment.

The new Miss Indian World will be crowned on Saturday evening, after the Grand Entry. The Gathering of Nations will be held at the University of New Mexico's University Arena in Albuquerque.

General admission tickets cost $17 per day, or $34 for a two day pass. VIP club level tickets are available for $50 and can be purchased at the door or in advance online.

POWWOW Calendar

29th Annual Gathering of Nations
University of New Mexico Arena
Albuquerque
April 26-28

MaChis Lower Creek Annual Pow Wow
Boll Weevil Circle
Enterprise, AL
April 27-29

Annual Sweet Grass Society Pow Wow
300 13th Street West
Havre, MT
April 27-28

Farmington Intertribal Powwow 2012
Farmington Community Center
1723 Farmington Rd
Mocksville, NC
April 27-29

Ohlone Big Time Gathering and Pow Wow
400 W Grand Ave Pomona, CA
April 27-29

WWU 23rd Annual Spring Powwow
1880 Bill McDonald Parkway
Bellingham, WA
April 28

American Indian Pow Wow
310 Edwin Drive
Virginia Beach, VA
April 28

South Umpqua Pow Wow
Umpqua Community College
Roseburg, OR
April 28-29

Graduation Powwow Honoring Dana Gaydusek
1008 E Sedalia Ave
Clinton, MO
April 28

98th Spring Contest Powwow at OU
Lloyd Noble Center
Norman, OK
April 28

American Indian Council Inc 21 Spring
4H grounds off of exit 139
Lebanon, IN
April 21-22

posted April 27, 2012 12:20 pm edt