Hundreds of Thousands of People to Celebrate Music, Art and Culture at World's Largest Gathering of Nations Powwow

Hundreds of Thousands of People to Celebrate Music, Art and Culture at World's Largest Gathering of Nations Powwow

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., April 20 /PRNewswire/ -- The world's largest gathering of Native American and indigenous people will take place in Albuquerque, NM between April 23 and 25, 2009 at The 26th Annual Gathering of Nations, the most prominent Native American powwow in the world. The event will be held at the University of New Mexico's University Arena (known locally as "The Pit") and will host more than 150,000 people and more than 500 tribes from throughout the United States and around the world celebrating their culture and traditions.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090420/LA01219 )

The Gathering of Nations' three-day event will include 36 different indigenous bands performing in an amphitheatre. The musical genres include country, reggae, rhythm and blues, hip-hop, rock 'n' roll, and more. In addition, more than 3,000 Native American singers and dancers will be entertaining a capacity crowd, and more than 600 Native American artisans, craftsmen and traders will be displaying and selling their work. Dozens of vendors in the Native Food Court will be offering guests a wide variety of food choices ranging between Southwestern cuisine and traditional Native American fare.

As part of the Gathering of Nations, a young Native American woman will be crowned Miss Indian World and represent all native and indigenous peoples as a cultural goodwill ambassador. Twenty-six Native American women representing their different tribes and traditions will compete for the title in the areas of tribal knowledge, dancing ability, and personality assessment.

Considered one of the leading folk festivals in the world, the Gathering of Nations will begin on Thursday, April 23 with registration for singers and dancers taking place at the arena. Later that evening, the Miss Indian World pageant will begin at 7:00 p.m. and is held at the Albuquerque Convention Center, 401 Second Street NW in downtown Albuquerque, NM. The crowning will take place on Saturday, April 25 at 8:00 p.m. at the arena. The "Grand Entry" begins at noon on Friday, April 24 with more than 3,000 Native American dancers dressed in colorful outfits adorned with feathers, bells, jingles, and fringes enter the arena to the sounds of hundreds of drums beating simultaneously.

Tickets cost $15 per day and can be purchased at the door during the event.

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Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090420/LA01219
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN10
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: Gathering of Nations

CONTACT: James Korenchen, JKPR, for Gathering of Nations,
+1-505-797-6671, james@jameskorenchen.com

Web Site: http://www.gatheringofnations.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment