3,000 dancers pack Gathering’s
Grand Entry

ABOVE: Spectators get a birds-eye view of more than 3,000 Native American and First Nation dancers from throughout the U.S. and Canada during the Gathering of Nations’ Grand Entry Friday at the University of New Mexico’s PIT in Albuquerque. The Gathering of Nations continues today. BELOW: Miss Navajo Nation, Jonathea D. Tso, of Cove, Ariz., walks with more than 3,000 dancers in the Gathering of Nations Grand Entry Friday at the University of New Mexico’s PIT in Albuquerque. [photos by Jim Snyder / For the Independent]By Jim Snyder
For the Independent

ALBUQUERQUE — The beating of drum groups, which surrounded the dancers — along with chanting — nearly took the PIT’s roof off during Friday’s Grand Entry at the University of New Mexico.

More than 3,000 dancers from tribes and pueblos from throughout the U.S., as well as First Nations dancers from tribes in Canada, danced as one spirit Friday during the 25th annual Gathering of Nations powwow. Royalty, such as Miss Navajo Nation Jonathea D. Tso, of Cove, Ariz., walked with the dancers.

And today’s Grand Entries, scheduled at noon and at 6 p.m., promise to be just as loud. The PIT and the neighboring Indian Traders Market is expected to be packed even further today, as attendance historically jumps on Saturday.

Keith Nahanee (far left) of the Squamish Nation from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, dances during the Gathering of Nations’ Grand Entry Friday at the University of New Mexico’s PIT in Albuquerque. More than 3,000 dancers were on the floor. Nahanee, who is half Hawaiian and half Squamish, made his Northern Traditional outfit using feathers from a dead eagle a friend found. “I took it apart and washed it and it came back to life,” he said. Natives from Canada are known as members of the First Nation. [photos by Jim Snyder / For the Independent]

Keith Nahanee, a Squamish Nation tribal member from Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada was one of the dancers on the floor Friday. He’s been coming to the Gathering with his wife for 16 years.

“This is one of our most favorite places to come in North America, not only of the feeling here but the city itself,” said Nahanee, who is half Hawaiian. “Every time we go to a powwow like this, you can feel the spirit of the Indian people. When the powwow is over and everybody is gone you can feel a big emptiness.”

Nahanee’s Northern Traditional outfit includes real eagle feathers. He said a man from a wildlife foundation in British Columbia found a dead eagle and brought it to him.

“It was caught up in a tree and it had no head,” Nahanee said. “I took it apart and I washed it and it came back to life. The old people would say I pitied this bird and this spirit is now going to help me all the time I dance.”

It didn’t take long for Nahanee to see other Squamish Nation members as well as friends from other Native American and First Nations tribes, since they frequent major powwows throughout Canada and the U.S.

“We run into each other. We’re never alone and our children are never alone because of the people we know from all over,” he said.

Many of the Grand Entry dancers brought their traditional outfits in small suitcases and put them on in the stands just prior to the event.

Sheldon Johnson, of Chinle, Ariz., found himself shortly before noon on Friday cramped into the PIT’s metal bench seats about halfway to the PIT floor. He was preparing Fancy War Dance outfits for his two young sons, 3-year-old daughter and himself. They were going to dance in the Grand Entry together.

“I’ve gotta get their stuff ready first before I do mine,” he said, adding he did not mind having to work fast in tight quarters while watching three children at the same time.

“Anywhere is all right, as long as you have a good seat,” he said, explaining his wife had to work in Chinle on Friday but would be joining them later.