Albuquerque – 29 October 2009 – The world’s largest gathering of American Indian and indigenous people will take place in Albuquerque, New Mexico in the United States of America between 22 and 24 of April 2010. The 27th Annual Gathering of Nations, the most prominent American Indian powwow in the world, 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 through dance, music, food and indigenous outfits of feathers, bells, jingles and fringes.

The three-day event will include more than 40 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 American Indian singers and dancers will be entertaining a capacity crowd, and more than 600 American Indian 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 South-western U.S. cuisine and traditional American Indian fare.
 
As part of the Gathering of Nations, a young American Indian woman will be crowned Miss Indian World, and will represent all native and indigenous people as a cultural goodwill ambassador. Dozens of American Indian and indigenous women representing their different tribes and traditions will compete in the areas of tribal knowledge, dancing ability, and personality assessment.

The Gathering of Nations receives hundreds of visitors and participants from throughout The United States, Canada, Mexico and around the world each year. With its unique cultural experience, we encourage everyone to put the world’s largest gathering of American Indian and indigenous people in their travel diaries for 2010.

Considered one of the leading folk festivals in the world, the Gathering of Nations is held at the University of New Mexico’s University Stadium in Albuquerque, New Mexico in the U.S. and will begin on Thursday, 22 April with registration for singers and dancers. Later that evening, the Miss Indian World competition will begin at 7:00 p.m. and is held at the Albuquerque Convention Centre, 401 Second Street NW in downtown Albuquerque. The crowning will take place on Saturday, 24 April at 8:00 p.m. at the stadium. Similar to Edinburgh Castle’s “Tattoo” performance in Edinburgh, Scotland, the event’s “Grand Entry” begins at noon on Friday, 22 April with more than 3,000 American Indian dancers dressed in colourful outfits adorned with feathers, bells, jingles, and fringes enter the stadium to the sounds of hundreds of drums beating simultaneously.

Tickets cost $15 (U.S.) per day and can be purchased in advance online at www.gatheringofnations.com or at the door during the event.
 
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