ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Black Eagle Singers pounded the drums for a traditional buffalo dance song that led the final grand entry in the last ever Gathering of Nations Powwow.
The Jemez Pueblo singers won a Grammy award in 2003 for their traditional northern style powwow songs that can hit fast and pounding beats for the dancers of all ages and styles. Their final song, led by the group’s founder Malcolm Yepa and performed near midnight on April 25, 2026 in front of a sold out arena, closed out the 43nd annual Gathering of Nations with a last dance deep in ceremonial history that pre-dates any powwow.
“That buffalo took care of every need that we had in our older days, food, shelter, tools, weapons, and also through ceremony,” Ruben Little Head (Northern Cheyenne) said as Buffalo Dancers marched to a calm drum beat. “Tonight we have the buffalo dancers to lead us out, to remind us we come from the buffalo people.”…