Indian Traders Market
To my right was a line of food vendors. Tempting, but it was the large white tent beyond, the Indian Traders Market, that lured me. Native American arts and crafts are distinctive and the Indian Traders Market is one of the best opportunities to see its full range. Stall after stall offered beaded necklaces and earrings, dream catchers, turquoise jewelry, clothing, crafts, and art prints, all vying for strollers' attentions. There was beautiful turquoise in many forms. But this day it was the beaded jewelry which caught my attention. Lovely patterned necklaces and earrings. I did not leave empty-handed.

Creativity, craft, and history blend together at the booth of the Birch Bark Biting Woman, Ilona Stanley-Clearsky, of the Ojibwe nation in Manitoba, Canada. This almost lost art is exactly as it sounds. Thin pieces of peeled bark are folded over several times, then Ms. Stanley-Clearsky begins to bite down creating beautifully symmetrical patterns when the bark is unfolded. Now sold as an art form, the designs were originally used as patterns. Charcoal would be carefully rubbed over the bite marks and the bark would be placed on cloth or leather to transfer the design. The resulting pattern was used for quill and beadwork. Ms. Stanley-Clearsky is one of only a handful of people who practice this art which she learned from watching a video of Angelique Merasti who was an original practitioner.

Although the Traders Market is an important part of both the cultural outreach and the fun, Gathering of Nations a festival of dancing and drumming, and part of the pageantry comes from the elaborate and gorgeous regalia of the participants. The regalia is a blend of traditional elements, and personal taste. The dress for the different dances follows a code, but there is room for individual touches. Depending on the dance specialty there may be plumes and bustles, tassels, buttons, jingles, and almost always intricate beadwork. Even Sesame Street characters have found their way onto the regalia of young children.

While snapping pictures without permission, touching the regalia or calling them costumes are definitely cultural no-nos, pride of heritage melds with educational outreach at the Gathering of Nations and many contestants when approached with a polite request are happy to explain their regalia and their dance specialty. I was bewitched by one tiny charmer, two-year-old Aaron Tate-Nevaquaya, an Oklahoma member of the Comanche nation. He was outside the arena resplendent in his mini-regalia as he waited for the results of the dance competition. "Aaron is a Traditional Dancer," explained his mother, Audrey Whitefeather, describing his dance category "and he competes in the Tiny Tots division." Like many competitors, his regalia is handmade. Perhaps even more special, Aaron's regalia was given to him when he was two months old. "He has been dancing ever since he could walk," said his mother. "I believe he was blessed and it was meant for him to dance."

Inside the Arena
The Gathering of Nations is full two-day event running from Friday morning to very early hours of Sunday.As a result, there is much wandering in and out of the Arena. People go out for food, to chat and stroll,even watch the entertainment on the outdoor stage at the far end of the line of food vendors. This is an informal gathering, that just happens to take place in a more formal venue.

The first thing a visitor should do is to buy a program. It lists the competitions and times (which should used as an approximation since there is slippage in the schedule as the day goes by). It will also describes some of the different dances. You'll read that there are dance contests for all ages from Elder Dancers (70 years of age and older) down to Junior and Teen categories, even a Tiny Tot dance competition. There are musical performances (flutes, guitar, violin and more) and the Miss Indian World contest.

Although some people stake out seats taping blankets and cloths on the benches, others seem to come and go which means seats are always opening up. That's how it happened that I found myself sitting next to Georgia Kirk, a Navajo native American from Ganado, AZ and her beautiful 18-year-old daughter Roxy. Although both had competed in dance events for several years, they were currently spectators. For them, the Gathering of Nations is major social event. "We connect with family and friends, and meet new people from other tribes and nations," explained Georgia. They also graciously and enthusiastically shared their heritage becoming my tutors about native American culture, teaching me a Navajo greeting, and making me feel welcomed.

Of all the events, the Grand Entry of Dancers should not be missed. The arena clears, and the dancers are announced. Group by group, they stream in from all four entrances, in full regalia. The drums are beating a soul-reaching rhythm and the dancers respond. Men and women, even children peeking out from between their parents. Soon the arena is awash with color, sound, and movement. Dance and drumming. "We dance to show the world what it is to be an Indian. We give thanks with our drumming," said the mistress of ceremonies.

The Gathering of Nations is a nonprofit organization whose goal, in part, is to present the cultures of the native Americans to the world. Music and dancing are gifts, and for the First Nations of this continent, they are gifts to be shared. And we are the richer for their generosity.

The Gathering of Nations takes place the last full weekend in April.

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