"Albuquerque Pow Wow draws thousands"

Albuquerque N.M. - With drums pounding, hundreds of native circled in a slow rhythmic dance to form a sea of feather headdresses and begin the world's largest powwow.

The Gathering of Nations expected to draw 100,000 people for is two-day run, up dramatically from the roughly 1,200 who attended in 1983 when the event began. More than 3,000 singers and dancers from more than 700 tribes from the Unites States and Canada are participating.

"We are all here to celebrate," said Princess Smilingwind, 58, of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe.

In a voice loud enough to be heard over the heartbeat rhythm of tablesized drums and the traditional singing, Smilingwind , explained the pleasure of watching native children dance.

"It's beautiful. I see tomorrow's generation," she said Friday.

"I see proud families who took the time to teach their children their culture and to be proud of who they are and where they come from."

Children may begin to compete once they're big enough to walk. They are 26 dance competition categories that run from "tiny tots" to "golden dancers" - those 70 years and older.

"We can't compete with the young pretty girls. We compete in our own group so we can have a chance," said Sandy Spottedwolf, 55, a Cheyenne from Bessie, Oklahoma.

Like her six-year-old granddaughter, Anna, Spottedwolf started dancing very young. Over the years she has seen the gatherings grow and the outfits change.

"When I was younger it was strictly traditional," she said.

Back then, the regalia was made of leather, eagle feathers, horse hair, beads and the like. Now, some dancers use sequins, fringe, and satin, along with the traditional items to live things up. No two outfits are exactly alike.

It's all in the name of competition.