Tribes come together in powwow at The Pit

Tribal pride intermingled with tourists, vendors, artists and years of tradition at The Pit over the weekend.

American Indian dancers and singers from all over the U.S. and Canada competed for thousands of dollars in prizes at the Gathering of Nations.

Tourists bought bits of American Indian culture from vendors who sold sage, jewelry, beads, shells, leather bags, cowboy hats and exotic Southwestern jams.

Chief Bill Williams of the Squamish Nation said he flew in from Vancouver, Canada, to represent his tribe and soak in the ambience of the event.

"I heard about it, and I have some friends that I met from this area, so I decided to come and see what it's all about," he said.

Williams said he didn't register to compete for prizes. He only planned to dance in his leather outfit with tiny bits of yellow wooden paddles sewn onto it after all the competitions had finished, he said.

"When we dance, the rattling of the paddles playing together makes the sound of a spring rainfall," he said. "When we dance, we say that the spring rain brings rejuvenation, brings new life to the Earth and brings cleansing to the Earth. So, we cleanse the dance floor when we dance."

Jimmy Martinez, assistant facilities director for UNM, said it takes a month for the University to prepare to host the Gathering of Nations.

"It is very difficult for us," he said. "We're spread a little thin, and usually it takes lots of preparation with the athletic department, the University. Plus, we have outside help from the police department, state fire marshals and stuff like that."

Martinez said it is important to American Indians that the University continues to host the powwow at The Pit.

"The Pit is very significant for the Native American people because The Pit resembles a pit," he said. "It's down below - underground - and you have all the vendors on top, on the outside of The Pit, and it's very significant, symbolic to them."

Jordan Nez, 11, said she has been to Gathering of Nations every year since she was 5.

Nez said her parents love to watch her compete in the dances. This year, she competed in the traditional dance - one of the most common dances done at powwows, she said.

"It depends on what dance you do, and that's what kind of dress you get," she said. "You practice every day. If you win, they give you money, and they give you a nice reward."

Martinez said Gathering of Nations is a spiritual event for some people.

"It's very meaningful for people who want to understand their culture a little bit better, and it's good for people who don't understand the culture," he said. "They can come in and see a lot of that."

Martinez said he loves to see the way some American Indian parents use the event to pass traditions down to their children.

"That's the thing I like to see the most," he said. "The parents are teaching the young ones their culture, and they're all dressed up. Whether they're dancing or just letting them see what their culture is all about - seeing the smiles on those kids' faces - to me, I think is important."