23.4.09
Gathering of Nations blues
The Gathering of Nations (GON) Pow Wow that happens every year in Albuquerque, New Mexico has reached an epic status for me ever since it was mentioned in the 1998 movie Smoke Signals. It is dubbed the biggest pow wow in all of North America, and I want to go. I was aching to go these last few years but it had never materialized due mostly to school or my student budget getting in the way.
This year I had friends with whom I could stay, and all I really needed was the flight and some spending money. Easy right? I was determined, this is the year I get to go to GON and meet Native people from all over North America. Some of these people I would meet I have been talking to for over a few years on MySpace so they already felt like good friends. So that's how it goes for Native people we live scattered all across Canada and the United States but during this pow wow in particular it is a time to meet, greet, celebrate culture, and well . . . have a good time.
I did hold off on booking my flight this year until last Friday when I received news of an audition the Friday during GON. Sacré bleu. There goes the GON plans and meeting all of my MySpace friends. Okay I know it sounds ridiculous because of course I am so beyond thrilled for having the audition and know that this is infinitely more rewarding than GON but I still can't help but feel like I am missing out.
Yes poor me can't go to New Mexico and has to go to NYC but this was the year that I was finally going to be a part of it all. So I wait for next year and will meanwhile hear about GON updates by my Twitter friends, then see all the photos posted in MySpace and then on Facebook by all my friends (and yes I do know a majority of them, there are just some that I haven't met yet). Next year I will be able to enjoy 'The Gathering' and if this audition goes well, I will enjoy in style. Until then I will send electronic smoke signals to all my lovelies enjoying their time there wishing I was a part of the festivities.
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Read about Toronto Pow Wow 2008 here.
Read about my desire to pow wow dance here and here.
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There are several reasons why I'd like to visit New Mexico. I'd like to see Roswell, all the cool caves and it would be pretty cool to check out something like this. If NM is anything like Arizona then I'm sure I'll enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes with your audition!
Next year, probably! Sometimes, it all happens at the same time. It's cool for the audition though, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteKaren - NM is pretty dope, my mother grew up in AZ and my half-brother used to live there so I have been lucky to visit the state while growing up. I do look forward to experiencing it through adult eyes though. When I was eight years old I convinced myself that I wanted to move to Albuquerque when I grew up - there was something about the energy that I got there . . .
ReplyDeleteZhu- yes next year indeed it must happen. I am so honored by the audition (which went well btw).