ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Gathering of Nations, widely recognized as the largest pow-wow in the United States, has announced that this year will be its final edition.
The people behind the event — the same organizers who launched the very first pow-wow in 1983 — have named this concluding celebration “The Last Dance.” That title signals a deliberate farewell to a long-running tradition that has drawn participants and spectators for decades.
For 43 years the Gathering of Nations has served as a major meeting place for Native communities, offering music, dance, arts, and cultural exchange. The decision to end the event marks the close of a significant chapter in the modern history of pow-wow gatherings.
The announcement invites reflection on the festival’s legacy: how it helped preserve and showcase Indigenous traditions, created connections across tribes and regions, and became an annual focal point for cultural pride and continuity.
Watch the video above for a special program that looks back on 43 years of celebrating Native culture and commemorates what the organizers are calling “The Last Dance.”
