News Release: March 12, 2020

As stated by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham on March 11, 2020, the state of New Mexico is experiencing a public health emergency.  As part of her announcement, Governor Lujan Grisham stated that her office is “proactively and aggressively canceling large public events and venues that the state has control over” and the Gathering of Nations, held on NM State property, is “hereby postponed” for health and safety reasons.  As a result of this announcement, and at the directive of the Governor’s office, the Directors of the Gathering of Nations have made the difficult decision to cancel the event for 2020.  Due to the uncertainty of how the coronavirus will impact travel and event closures, it is nearly impossible to reinstate the enormous production of the Gathering of Nations Powwow, Stage 49, Traders’ Market, the Horse & Rider Parade and the Miss Indian World Pageant this year.  

Due to the cancellation of the Gathering of Nations activities, the Miss Indian World Pageant is also cancelled.  The current reigning Miss Indian World, Cheyenne Kippenberger will remain the title holder until April 24, 2021. The Miss Indian World Pageant Raffle Drawing will still take place at a date to be determined before April 22, 2020.

While this was not an easy decision, the Gathering of Nations continues to pray for the health and well-being of individuals infected with COVID-19 and encourages everyone to take precautions and the necessary preventative steps to help stop the spread of novel coronavirus and other communicable diseases, in our respective communities.

In the meantime, we encourage all who planned to attend the Gathering of Nations 2020 to take the following steps: 

• Contact your hotel directly to cancel any reservations. 
• Contact airlines, or transportation companies, to cancel reservations. 
• Contact any auxiliary events (conferences, trainings, tournaments), not produced by the Gathering of Nations, to find out if the event is still happening. 

The cancellation of the 2020 Gathering of Nations Powwow was beyond the control of the 501 (c)3 non-profit organization and leaves a great hardship for all involved.  While passes, tickets, vendor fees, and other purchases are not refundable, the Gathering of Nations will issue credit vouchers redeemable within the next two Gathering of Nations Powwow, and good until April 2022.  Ticket holders, vendors and other purchasers will receive additional guidance and/or an email with information on the credit vouchers within the next week.  Please give the staff time to reorganize and plan around the recent directives to cancel.  We understand that this sudden cancellation is a tremendous inconvenience and recognize the difficult situation all of us are now facing.  

Once again, we appreciate your cooperation and understanding of this unprecedented occurrence that was beyond the control of the Gathering of Nations organization.  The dates for the next Gathering of Nations Powwow are April 22-24, 2021.

For updates and further information regarding the Gathering of Nations pow-wow and related events please visit www.gatheringofnations.com.