Last Night's 2021 Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial

Above, the wild horse race could best be described as "organized chaos". Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For the first time in two years, the Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial is taking place at Red Rock Park.

Last year's Ceremonial was canceled due to the pandemic and this year's has been scaled down due to political factors as the state's tourism board usurped much of it from the local committee. 

Still, it was nice to attend the Ceremonial which comprised of an art show/contest, vendors, rodeo and tribal dancing. It was well attended last night. Maybe a third of the normal number of vendors were there from what I saw in 2019 and an equal number of artworks were on display.

The rodeo started with a  pre-show "wild horse race" which could be best described as organized chaos. The rodeo then officially began with bareback riding and then bull riding. 

One of the first bareback riders barely escaped serious injury when his horse threw him but his hand and wrist was tied too well to the horse reins and it dragged him around the arena, at one point it seemed to knock his head against barrier bars. Finally, rodeo staff were able to get the horse under control and get the rider detached from the reins. I would not be surprised if his hand, wrist and arm sustained injury. He had to be carried out of the arena.

After taking in the bareback riding and bull riding events at the rodeo, I decided to head on home as the weather was threatening and I anticipated a traffic jamb on Interstate 40 and Route 66,

Sure enough, both were clogged with traffic and I decided to head home through Six Mile Canyon Road from McGaffey. It was an interesting drive as it was dusk with cloudy skies along with rain and lightning, but I made it. It was the second time I drove through Six Mile Canyon in the Cibola National Forest in the Mustang. Good thing I left when I did, when I got home, the storm got more intense.

It was an enjoyable Friday evening and the Ceremonial continues through the weekend.

Here's some photos:

Above, the exhibit hall. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, exhibitors with goods for sale. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, art show displays. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Navajo rug contest entries. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Gallup area artist Jerry Brown with works in progress. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Zuni Pueblo dancers. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, some of the rodeo's wild horses. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Red Rock Park Rodeo Arena. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the bareback riding event. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the bareback rider who barely escaped serious injury dragged around the arena. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, another bareback rider. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above and the next three photos, the bull riding event. Photos by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a bull that got loose from his pen. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, driving home in Six Mile Canyon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.