The 27th annual Gathering of Nations kicks off today in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The three-day powwow attracts thousands of dancers, drummers and spectators. Over 500 tribes in the U.S. and 200 First Nations from Canada are being represented.

"It's what we consider the Super Bowl of powwows," Jhane Myers-NoiseCat told The Albuquerque Journal. "Because it's organized. It's high prize money. Everybody, when they're making new outfits and new stuff to wear, they want to break it out and show it at the Gathering."

The powwow usually takes place at The Pit, the University of New Mexico basketball stadium. But this year it's being held outdoors at the University Stadium due to renovations at the Pit.

"The fact that it's open air makes it a little bit more natural to the traditional style of powwows," GON founder and director Derek Matthews told the paper.

The event concludes on Sunday.

Get the Story:
Powwow at the Stadium (The Albuquerque Journal 4/22)