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An American-Indian dancer and drummers perform as a part of the opening to the Miss Indian World talent show at the Albuquerque Convention Center on Thursday. The winner of the competition will be announced Saturday at the Gathering of Nations in The Pit.
An American-Indian dancer and drummers perform as a part of the opening to the Miss Indian World talent show at the Albuquerque Convention Center on Thursday. The winner of the competition will be announced Saturday at the Gathering of Nations in The Pit.

Dancers gather for competition

by Christopher Sanchez

Daily Lobo

After two days of traveling in a bus from Canada, Teresa Flamand and her two children didn't have time to change their clothes when they arrived at The Pit on Thursday.

Flamand was too anxious to sign her son up for a dance competition at the 23rd Gathering of Nations. It is the first time her family attended the event, she said.

"It was worth it to come down," Flamand said.

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Flamand's son, Shane Flamand, signed up for the youth hoop dance for 12- to 16-year-olds.

Shane, 12, said it is a healing dance in which people place tobacco in front of the dancer. The dance, which involves 21 hoops, is a prayer for all those who placed the tobacco, he said.

The Gathering of Nations is one of the largest American-Indian congregations in the country. The event attracts more than 3,000 American Indians from 500 different tribes in the United States and Canada each year.

The dancer registration started Thursday, and the gathering begins today. The event will conclude Saturday with the crowning of Miss Indian World, which is a pageant for American-Indian girls.

Throughout the three days of the gathering, a popular attraction is the Indian Trader's Market. About 500 artists sell their crafts and generate about $2 million each year in sales.

Shane has won several competitions in hoop dancing, including seventh place at the World Championship Hoop Dance in Phoenix. He said he's ready to add another award to his collection.

"I came over here to place and make my family proud," Shane said.

If he wins first place, he will receive $1,500 and a trophy.

Flamand said it's not all about winning. It's also about checking out Albuquerque and eating New Mexican food, she said.

"We're not just here for the money prizes but for the experience too," Flamand said.

Shane said he has been hoop dancing since he was 6 years old. Shane credits his sister for teaching him the dance.

Albuquerque resident Rita Frazier registered her daughter for the youth hoop dance.

Frazier said she has been coming to the Gathering of Nations since it started in 1983. Every year it gets better, she said.

"I like the contests - the kid's contest," she said. "I like the whole thing."

In the meantime, the Miss Indian World talent show was Thursday night at the Albuquerque Convention Center.

Cassie Thomas, Miss Indian World 2005-2006, introduced the 25 young American-Indian girls competing.

Thomas said there is a lot of pressure when competing for the title in front of the many tribes present.

Geno Kennedy traveled from North Carolina to enjoy the festivities. Kennedy said his stepdaughter was crowned by the Lumbee Tribe as Little Miss Lumbee in North Carolina. The Miss Indian World title is something young American-Indian girls want, Kennedy said.

"If you represent your tribe, your goal is to be Miss Indian World," he said. "It's the pinnacle of pageants."

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