By Rachel Sapin / Albuquerque Business First

Published on April 24, 2017

Not only will this year’s Gathering of Nations take place on the new powwow grounds at Expo New Mexico in Albuquerque, but for the first time, a medical cannabis producer will serve as the event’s title sponsor.

“The Gathering Of Nations Limited, a nonprofit organization accepted the sponsorship of Ultra Health, (an officially licensed cannabis grower and dispensary in the State of New Mexico, where medical cannabis is legal by New Mexico State law) for all of the positive and financial reasons as they have all other sponsors,” Gathering of Nations officials said in a statement. “Ultra Health has demonstrated the ability to provide an ever-growing medical need to all people and a potentially economic opportunity for Native American tribes within in the United States.”

Ultra Health CEO and President Duke Rodriguez said it was a natural fit for the nonprofit to support the event, and that Gathering of Nations like Ultra Health, promotes welfare and wellbeing.

“Cannabis in tribal country is likely to be the biggest economic driver and may surpass casinos,” Rodriguez said as what he sees as a future economic opportunity for Native Americans.

He said Ultra Health has been actively working with tribes who are in various stages of developing cannabis, though he said he could not disclose who those tribes are.

Ultra Health also sought to sponsor the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta but the event’s board denied Ultra Health’s sponsorship.

Gathering of Nations was estimated to have a $20 million economic impact in the metro area, with hotels, restaurants and tourism-related businesses taking in the biggest haul.

Organizers expect tens of thousands of visitors to attend this year along with more than 700 tribes from throughout the United States, Canada, and around the world. The three-day event will include more than 3,000 traditional Native American singers and dancers competing for prizes, and more than 800 Native American artisans, craftsmen and traders displaying and selling their work.

Gathering of Nations, the world’s largest gathering of Native Americans, will take place this year from April 27-29.

Ultra Health reported $4.9 million in total sales in 2016.