Gathering of Nations facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gathering of Nations |
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Gathering of Nations, Albuquerque, NM - April 2007
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| Genre | Pow wow |
| Dates | 28-30, April 2022 |
| Location(s) | Expo New Mexico 300 San Pedro NE Albuquerque, NM 87108 |
| Years active | Since 1983, at the University of New Mexico |
| Attendance | 72,000 (2017) |
| Website | Official website: https://www.gatheringofnations.com/ |
The Gathering of Nations is the biggest pow-wow in the United States and North America. A pow-wow is a special gathering where Native American people celebrate their culture. They do this through dancing, singing, and sharing traditions. This huge event happens every year in April. It takes place at Expo New Mexico in Albuquerque, New Mexico. More than 565 Native American tribes from the U.S. and 220 from Canada come to take part. It's a truly amazing celebration of Native American culture!
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What Happens at the Gathering?
The Gathering of Nations is packed with exciting activities. It's a chance for people to connect and share their heritage.
Dance and Music Competitions
One of the main attractions is the dance competitions. Dancers compete in 36 different categories. These categories include various age groups. There are divisions for Elders (70+), Golden Age (55+), Adults (19+), Teens, and Tiny Tots.
Singing is also a big part of the event. There are competitions for Northern Singers and Southern Singers. Women's Back-up Singing is another popular contest. Drum Groups and individual Drummers also compete. Many other special competitions take place too.
Miss Indian World Pageant
Each year, a pageant is held to choose Miss Indian World. The winner is picked based on her personality. She also needs to show knowledge of tribal traditions. Her dancing ability is very important too. This pageant celebrates the strength and beauty of Native American women.
Indian Traders Market and More Fun
The Gathering of Nations also features the Indian Traders Market. Here, you can find artists, crafters, and traders. They sell beautiful Native American and Indigenous arts and crafts. It's a great place to find unique items.
Other Exciting Activities
There are even more things to do during the festival. Stage 49 is a special place for music and performances. Native musicians and other artists get to perform on a professional stage. They play in front of a large audience.
You can also see a native horse and rider regalia parade. This parade honors the important horse culture among tribes. There is also a teepee village to explore. The Gathering of Nations also helps with a literacy program. They give over four thousand books to young children who are registered to dance.
Spreading the Culture
The Gathering of Nations has a high-level traveling show. This show has been performing since 1995. They have traveled all over the USA, Asia, and Europe. They even performed on Broadway in New York City.
The show has also been on national television. They performed live five times on the NBC Today show. In 2010, the Gathering of Nations Pow Wow's album A Spirit's Dance won a Grammy award. It won for Best Native American music album. This shows how important and respected the music is.
A Family-Friendly Event
The Gathering of Nations Powwow is an event for the whole family. Everyone is invited to come and enjoy the celebration. The next Gathering of Nations Powwow is scheduled for April 28-30, 2022.
Images for kids
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Gathering of Nations, Albuquerque, NM - April 2007
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