近距离内射合集

For many, Albuquerque鈥檚 annual Gathering of Nations is more than an event 鈥� it鈥檚 a lively cultural experience showcasing colorful dancing and Indigenous pride.

For Waleid Azizeh 鈥� originally from Gallup and part-owner of Indian Treasures, an Old Town jewelry shop 鈥� the April event is a cherished tradition, spent cheering on the Navajo Nation, enjoying good food and running a booth that delivers some of his 鈥渂est days鈥� in business.

鈥淚 had people from a tribe in Florida that flew in on a private jet and bought all their jewelry from me, and every year after that, they鈥檇 come to my store, and I would literally sit here and wait for them,鈥� Azizeh said.

Business in Azizeh鈥檚 store is generally up during the Gathering of Nations weekend, he said. But Azizeh and several other local business owners are expecting April to look a little different in the future, as the annual event is approaching its final year.

In August, Gathering of Nations organizers announced that the 2026 event 鈥� dubbed 鈥淭he Last Dance鈥� 鈥� would be its last, bringing 43 years of North America鈥檚 largest powwow to an end. Serving as a gathering place for tribal communities across the world to showcase their culture through dancing, singing, drumming, horse riding and pageant competitions, the final powwow will take place April 24-25.

The organizers did not provide a reason for the decision, and did not respond to the Journal鈥檚 requests for comment as of deadline, but said in a statement, 鈥淭here comes a time.鈥�

Business owners the Journal spoke with speculated reasons could range from financial to infrastructure limitations and crime in the area surrounding Expo New Mexico, where the event has been held since 2017. The event鈥檚 end coincides with redevelopment plans underway for the Expo.

Over the years, the event has received some criticism from the Native American community about the increased commercialization of the event. Organizers have dismissed those claims and said the money raised from the event goes toward supporting the expenses associated with the event, as well as scholarships and special causes.

Since the event鈥檚 discontinuation was announced, many have acknowledged that Albuquerque will feel the impact economically and in terms of tourism, as the city loses a popular attraction that brought significant visitor numbers and spending.

Data provided to Visit Albuquerque by technology and hospitality data company STR shows that average hotel occupancy ranged between roughly 80% and 85% for the dates aligning with the Gathering of Nations over the past four years. While the rates cannot be attributed directly to the Gathering of Nations event, they are significantly higher than the average hotel occupancy of 61% for 2025.

In the last three to five years, the event has generated annual economic activity ranging between $24 million and $30 million, according to various estimates gathered by Albuquerque Office of Native American Affairs Liaison Brandi Ahmie.

One of those estimates comes from Reilly White, a University of New Mexico finance professor and economist, who told the Journal that $30 million in economic activity is a fair estimate for longstanding, largely attended events like the Gathering of Nations.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 why this being the last year is such a significant loss for the city,鈥� White said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not going to be catastrophic, by any means, in the sense that Albuquerque will not be wiped from the map, but it鈥檚 real business that affects real people鈥檚 existence and lives, especially during a month where there isn鈥檛 a lot of other stuff that drives that many people and that much attention to the city.鈥�

Azizeh, who has been a vendor at the Gathering of Nations roughly four times, said the longtime vendors will probably feel the loss of the event most of all. In recent years, Gathering of Nations vendors have seen more than $3 million in sales during the event, according to the Gathering of Nations website.

"It鈥檚 absolutely such a culturally significant event 鈥� the color, the beauty, the international representation that it鈥檚 bringing to our community,鈥� said Visit Albuquerque President Tania Armenta said, adding that her reaction to the event ending was 鈥渃ertainly one of disappointment.鈥�

The influx of international visitors who come in town for the powwow are one of The Old Town Hat Shop & Accessory Boutique Manager Patricia Salazar鈥檚 favorite parts of late April in Albuquerque.

鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be sad because we see people from all over the world, just like the Balloon Fiesta,鈥� Salazar said.

While the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is much larger and longer, Salazar said Gathering of Nations is still one of the events that the shop 鈥� in business for 24 years 鈥� gears up for.

鈥淣ot quite the same, but it鈥檚 going to have an impact,鈥� said Marlene Patterson, the shop鈥檚 owner.

William Stafford, part-owner of Sadie鈥檚 of New Mexico, agreed. On the weekend of Gathering of Nations and the week leading up to it, Stafford said the popular New Mexican restaurant sees 鈥渁lmost as much鈥� of an uptick in business as Balloon Fiesta time. The only difference, he said, is that Balloon Fiesta is two weeks versus one weekend.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a bummer,鈥� said Stafford, who has attended the event with family members for years. 鈥淚 would imagine it鈥檚 going to impact all business in this city and in the village of Los Ranchos and surrounding areas in some capacity.鈥�

For Azizeh鈥檚 shop 鈥� which has sold locally made, Native American-made jewelry and pottery in Old Town for roughly 17 years 鈥� the loss won鈥檛 hit too hard when looking at a full year of business. But the month of April will feel significantly different, he said.

鈥淲e do good; I have a lot of repeat customers that come in for (Gathering of Nations),鈥� Azizeh said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so unfortunate, but what are we going to do, right?鈥�

Albuquerque native Tess Coats 鈥� owner of Old Town鈥檚 Luna and Luz gift store and vice president of the Historic Old Town Association 鈥� has some thoughts.

Around this time last year, Coats pitched the idea of launching Old Town鈥檚 own smaller version of the Gathering of Nations and Santa Fe鈥檚 Indian Market to the association鈥檚 events committee.

鈥淚t would be a presentation of all things Indigenous culture, in terms of food, cultural demonstrations, performances, as well as free vending,鈥� Coats said. 鈥淗istorically, we鈥檝e seen that Old Town tends to represent Spanish and Mexican culture, but we really aren鈥檛 pulling in enough of the Indigenous community and providing a platform for that.鈥�

The idea made strides, yet never came to fruition. But now, Coats thinks the Gathering of Nations exit could present an opportunity to revive the idea and help fill the void.

鈥淭his is a pretty significant event,鈥� Coats said. 鈥淚 see it as hosting and making people fall in love with our city.鈥�

Coats and others hope programming surrounding the Route 66 centennial will help soften the Gathering of Nations blow. Identifying additional events and opportunities for new or expanded programming for April is also on Visit Albuquerque鈥檚 to-do list.

鈥淟ooking for opportunities for additional cultural events is something that鈥檚 key from our standpoint,鈥� Armenta said, adding the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center is among the industry partners Visit Albuquerque has begun brainstorming with. 鈥淎nything that draws visitation and celebrates our culture is something we鈥檙e interested in.鈥�

Clever Garcia, a local artist and member of the Ohkay Owingeh and Tesuque Pueblos, said he hopes to see some of the grant funding for Gathering of Nations go toward events like the UNM Kiva Club鈥檚 annual Nizhoni Days Powwow, which also occurs in late April. He also sees opportunities to grow Native American galleries and art initiatives to play a larger role in Albuquerque鈥檚 tourism scene.

Garcia, who has visited and participated in the Gathering of Nations, counts himself among those who feel the event became too commercialized in recent years, saying that the local tribes don鈥檛 see the profits from the event.

Even still, he said he would like to attend the event one last time, citing the powwow鈥檚 energy and the unique opportunity for tribes across the world to come together.

鈥淚鈥檇 like to see the last shebang and see how they want to close out that whole chapter,鈥� Garcia said. 鈥淗opefully, they will close it with respect and honor for the people who kept the tradition alive for this long.鈥�

Local business owners are hoping that, with this year鈥檚 Gathering of Nations being the last, it will draw significant attention and visitation 鈥� maybe enough to build a cushion for next year.

鈥淟et鈥檚 go out with a bang, right?鈥� Stafford said.

Azizeh agreed.

鈥淚 think this is going to be the best year,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 have high hopes for sure.鈥�

Kylie Garcia covers retail and real estate for the Journal. You can reach her at kgarcia@abqjournal.com.