World's largest powwow moving to a new venue
- EFN Staff | January 31, 2017
The world’s largest Native American event called the Gathering of Nations (GON) Powwow, which is held in Albuquerque, New Mexico will be moved to a new location this year.
The 34th Annual GON Powwow usually generates crowds as large as tens of thousands of people with more than 700 tribes worldwide attend this popular event. GON will take place on April 27-29th and will be moved to the powwow grounds at the Expo New Mexico/Tingley Coliseum.
The former venue was held at the WisePies Arena AKA The Pit at the University of New Mexico. To accommodate with every year’s growing attendees, organizers decided it was time to change the powwow location.
The new venue will provide upgraded amenities that will create more spacious areas to open more opportunities to expand the event size.
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The three-day event will host the Miss Indian World Talent Competition, Miss Indian World a prestigious princess pageant, and with more than 3,000 traditional Native American singers and dancers, more than 800 Native American artisans, craftsmen and traders displaying and selling their work.
“Striving to be a positive cultural and spiritual experience that is exhilarating for everyone…Tingley Coliseum on the all new ‘Powwow Grounds’ provide us with the opportunity to create a more intimate powwow experience…the finest in Native American arts and crafts at the Indian Traders Market, and a delicious variety of Native American and Southwest cuisine in the Native Food Court,” said Derek Mathews in a media release, the founder of the GON.
A new addition this year will be the Teepee Village that will be a place for attendees to relax and enjoy the sounds of the powwow. The current Miss Indian World is Danielle Ta’Sheena Finn, a citizen of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. She will be handing down her title on the 27th at the Albuquerque Convention Center.
According to the GON website, the powwow started in 1983 at the University of Albuquerque and as years passed, the powwow known as North America’s Largest Gathering, grew beyond expectation over the years.
Tickets are on sale for this year’s GON powwow with price ranging from $18 and $73 and and can be purchased online in advance of the event at www.gatheringofnations.com/tickets.aspx.
Tickets will still be sold at the door.