The concept for the Gathering of Nations Pow Wow came about in 1982, after Derek Mathews discovered cheating and contest rigging at the National Finals Powwow. He was able to prove his discovery at the end of the event which resulted in the bogus powwow committee having to pay prize money out for a second time. The second payment was to the true and legitimate winners. It was from that event that Derek Mathews decided to produce a contest powwow which would be conducted in a fair and ethical way. This was the birth of the Gathering of Nations Powwow.

Since that time The annual Gathering of Nations Pow wow has been promoted as a fair contest to all dancers and singers. Each year painstaking efforts are made by the Mathews family (Derek, Lita, and Melonie) to guarantee the powwow is judged as fairly as humanly possible. The Gathering of Nations Powwow is the annual premiere event in all of Indian Country.

It is important that each dancer and drum group have the confidence in the Gathering of Nations to produce a fairly judged event. That means that the pow wow selects judges who are completely fair and without political, social, or family bias. Dancers at the Gathering of Nations are judged upon their individual dancing skills and performance, and not their reputation or celebrity status. The same ethical standards are in effect for drum groups.

All Dancers and drum groups are welcome at the Gathering of Nations Powwow to compete and enjoy themselves. The Gathering of Nations is North America's biggest Powwow. More specifically, it is the largest annual indigenous event in the world!

The Gathering of Nations encourages all powwow promoters, tribes, casinos, and committees to guarantee contest fairness.

North America's Biggest PowWow!