AP Explains: How Native American powwows evolved over years

By RUSSELL CONTRERAS, ASSOCIATED PRESS
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Apr 27, 2018, 2:29 PM ET



The Associated Press

FILE--In this April 28, 2017 file photo, a group of Native American elders lead the grand entry to the Gathering of Nations in Albuquerque, N.M. The Gathering of Nations, one of the world's largest gatherings of indigenous people, is set to begin Friday, April 27, 2018, in Albuquerque, drawing around 3,000 dancers from hundreds of tribes in the U.S., Canada and Mexico and generally pulling in about 80,000 visitors with dances, drum contests and various competitions. (AP Photo/Russell Contreras, file)

The Gathering of Nations, one of the world's largest gatherings of indigenous people, started Friday in Albuquerque. The annual event attracts about 3,000 dancers from hundreds of tribes from the U.S., Canada and Mexico and draws about 80,000 visitors who come to see dances, drum contests and competitions.

The Native American event is a powwow — a pan-American Indian celebration featuring song, dance and prayer. They are held in stadiums, rural community centers or high school gyms and offer an opportunity for American Indians from different tribal nations with diverse histories to come together to reaffirm their shared experiences and reunite with friends.

Here's a look at how powwows began and have evolved over the years:

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