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The dancers streamed in from the southwest corner, filling Tingley Coliseum with beautiful, bright regalia and a deafening chorus of chants, drums and clanging bells. 

It marked the 鈥淟ast Dance鈥� of the Gathering of Nations Powwow, the largest powwow in North America, which concluded for the final time in sa国际传媒官网网页入口 Saturday evening after a 43-year-run.

The powwow drew 700 Indigenous tribes and visitors from across the continent for cultural dances and performances, and an Indian Traders Market with hand-crafted items and Indigenous food. This year鈥檚 event also featured a motorcycle rally of more than 500 riders raising awareness and support for missing and murdered Indigenous people. 

鈥淓njoy this beautiful sight,鈥� a voice announced over the speakers as dancers filled the arena.鈥淕et your phones out, take pictures. Share this message.鈥�

Outside the arena, a logjam of cars was at a standstill at around 11 a.m. as people waited to park. On the Expo New Mexico concourse, visitors snaked through hours-long lines to get into the arena. 

鈥淵ou just feel it,鈥� Natasha Vigil, of Dallas, said of the sights and sounds of hundreds of tribes performing cultural dances. 鈥淚t gives you the chills.鈥�

Vigil, originally from Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians in northern California, said relatives from Texas, Colorado and California had a reunion in sa国际传媒官网网页入口 for the last Gathering of Nations. Her tribe has less than 1,000 members, 鈥渁nd our elders are eldering,鈥� potentially limiting the younger generation鈥檚 ability to practice the tribes鈥� cultural and language.

But she gained motivation to lead a rejuvenation when she saw members of different tribes make their way to the arena for the afternoon performances.

鈥淒ang it, I want to dance,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 want to know more about my culture, and do more for it.鈥�

Many visitors expressed sadness that the Gathering of Nations was concluding. 

鈥淥鈥� Soto, of Boise, Idaho, had wanted to attend for years. 

鈥淚 flew miles and miles,鈥� Soto said. 鈥淚t saddens me greatly (that the event) is ending. It鈥檚 insight into a culture that鈥檚 fading.鈥�

Soto is of Mexican ancestry and wanted to show respect for Native culture.

鈥淚 think everybody is losing their identify in the country,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to show support for the way (Native Americans) live their culture.鈥�

Derek Mathews, the founder and director, told the Journal that the event was his family鈥檚 life鈥檚 work. Mathews, his wife, Lita Mathews, a member of the Santa Clara Pueblo, and daughter, Melonie Mathews, produce and manage the event together.

"We have done the best we could. And now it is time," he said. 

Mathews said it was a 鈥渂ittersweet鈥� weekend, marked with sadness and celebration.

鈥淓ven though the Gathering of Nations is coming to an end, the dream continues in the minds and hearts of people around the world,鈥� he said in a text on Saturday. 鈥淭he Gathering of Nations Powwow is truly a legend and will never be forgotten.鈥�

Saturday included the last out-going of Miss Indian World.

The pageant was historically a highlight of the Gathering of Nations Powwow, and young women aged 18-25 competed for the coveted crown and the opportunity to showcase their tribes鈥� cultures. The final Miss Indian World, Dania Wahwasuck, of the Prairie Band Potawatomi of Mayetta, Kansas, was recognized in a ceremony Saturday evening.

Glori Sharphead, a member of the Enoch Cree Nation in Alberta, Canada, brought her daughter because it was the final chance to see it. 

鈥淚n Indian Country we have the term 鈥� powwow politics,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 sad. It鈥檚 been going for 43 years.

鈥淲hen you bring all the tribes together, and Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, it鈥檚 true truth and reconciliation.鈥�

When Anita Clark, a member of the Lumbee tribe from Pembroke, North Carolina, was flying to sa国际传媒官网网页入口 for the event, she met a Navajo woman on the plane and the two spent the flight talking about their cultures. 

鈥淲e talked about how they have fry bread and we have flour bread. It鈥檚 basically the same thing but it鈥檚 cooked differently,鈥� she said. 鈥淓ven though we鈥檙e from different tribes, we鈥檙e all connected. 鈥� We鈥檙e family even though we鈥檙e not.鈥�

Jane Freeman, of Santa Fe, encouraged a group of her friends to attend. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 not only (the beautiful regalia), you learn,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a way to learn about other cultures.鈥�

Ismael Chavez, of El Paso, Texas, brought his girlfriend, Zeltzin Rodr铆guez, to the final day. The date was Chavez鈥檚 idea because Rodr铆guez is of Aztec ancestry, plus she鈥檚 a photographer, and there鈥檚 no shortage of beautiful photographs to take during the ceremony.

鈥淚 figured she would really enjoy seeing Native culture,鈥� Chavez said. 鈥淚 heard it was the last one, and I wanted to give her that experience.鈥�

Journal Staff Writer Logan Beitmen contributed to this report