“My goal was to show the modern Indian and see where they are now,” says New York-based director Keeley Gould of her portrait of contemporary Native American culture, captured at last year’s 31st annual Gathering of Nations pow wow. 

Renowned for being the world’s largest congregation of North America's Native people, the event sees over 700 tribes from across the continent flock to a basketball court in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for three days of cultural celebration, comprised of everything from dance-offs and the crowning of Miss India to an event for Native American skateboarders.

The British-born Gould hoped to show the people of Native American lineage as being like any contemporary community connecting with its history and embracing its diversity.

“Maybe we all have a slight romantic idea of the Native American culture, expecting to see people in a beautiful grassland or some kind of natural habitat,” explains Gould. “You’re expecting to see them in raw hides, but they don’t hunt on the land like they used to so they don’t have access to that.” 

This year’s Gathering of Nations pow wow runs April 23-25.