The big event today - the Gathering of Nations Powwow, one of the largest in the country. We saw license plates from Canada, Mexico and dozens of states. Lines to enter were long, and the concourses in the "Pit" (UNM arena) were crowded. We looked for a place to sit where we could get good pictures - where Bill liked, Sandra didn't - possibly because Bill had a telephoto & Sandra didn't. The event started with the Grand Entry, right on time - no "Indian time" here. Can you picture 3000 people, all in colorful regalia, trying to dance on a basketball court?
After the entry, the contests began with the senior dancers (55-69) dancing their specialties, followed by younger girls & boys, then the teens - all accompanied by pounding drums, well amplified, and the drum groups singing their traditional dance songs. The songs mean a lot to the participants.
We saw men's & women's traditional, women's jingle & shawl dances, men's fancy feather and grass dances. Left about 3, went back to the B&B, cleaned up a bit and went to join Larry Harrah for supper at Garcia's on Juan Tabo St. Then, back to the B&B and process pictures & rest up for museums and old town tomorrow.
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