to top of page / A-Z index

"New Orleans Black Indians:
A Case Study in the Arts"

from the Faces of Culture Series

for an update on the Black Indians of New Orleans see
Cultural Anthropology: Our Diverse World,
Part 11, "Grouping by Gender, Age, Common Interests and Class"
(30 min., 2008, DVD 1793))

to top of page / A-Z index

Big chief busy sewing Indian parade together
Mohawk Hunters to hit streets again
Thursday, February 09, 2006

 

American Routes With Nick Spitzer

This Week on American Routes:
February 22-28, 2006

"Mardi Gras in New Orleans"

"Mardi Gras has been a part of Louisiana culture since 1699. Parades have rolled in New Orleans and Mobile since the early 1800's, and it's the 150th anniversary of the first official Mardi Gras krewe parade in New Orleans. We take the occasion to remember the life and passing of the leader of the Yellow Pocahontas, Allison “Tootie” Montana, the Chief of Chiefs who passed away in June of 2005.

to top of page / A-Z index

Easter

• Rites of Intensification
  
  
• Mardi Gras
  • Mardi Gras Indians
    
    
• carne-levare
  (levitate, levity, lever)
  
  
• Mardi Gras Schedule
  
  
  • Vulcan -- St. Paul Winter Carnival
  • Mardi Gras in Mobilie, AL
    (Chief Slacabamorinico)
    
    

• "Tribes"
  
  
  • The Mardi Gras Indian Nation: The 40 Known Tribes
    
    
    • The Wild Magnolias
    • Wild Tchoupitoulas
    • Golden Eagles
      
      
  • Tribal Websites

to top of page / A-Z index

Notes Hungarian Enthusiasts map -- The World Factbook masks: per-son-ality? Do masks change one's personality?

Dionysus, Greek Theatrical Mask

Lady in White, Venice Carnival

Sites

• New Orleans

Cultures

• "New Orleans Black Indians"

to top of page / A-Z index

Related WebSites

• "Another Battle of New Orleans: Mardi Gras," by Rick Bragg, The New York Times, February 19, 1995 (1996 Pulitzer Prize Winnter for Feature Writing)
  
  
• THE BLACK INDIANS OF NEW ORLEANS: A PORTRAIT OF A THREATENED SUBCULTURE -- Christopher Porche West Photography
  
  
• Black Mardi Gras traditions making a comeback in New Orleans -- AP News (4 February 2008)
  
  
• He's The Prettiest: A Tribute To Big Chief Allison "Tootie" Montana's 50 Years Of Mardi Gras Indian Suiting -- New Orleans Museum of Art
  
  
• Indians Comin': Big Chief Got A Golden Crown
  
  
• Mardi Gras Indians -- MaRdI Gras.com
  
  
• The Mardi Gras Indian Nation
  
  • Indians' Future
    
    
• MARDI GRAS INDIANS: Tradition and History
  
  
• Mardi Gras Music & The MG Music Survival Kit
  
  
• Mardi Gras tribes ready to suit up -- USA Today (10 January 2008)
  
  
• MYSTERIOUS LANGUAGE OF MARDI GRAS INDIANS -- HOUSTON INSTITUTE FOR CULTURE
  
  

to top of page / A-Z index

• Other Black Indian Websites
  
  
• A Short History of the Mardi Gras Indians of New Orleans
  
  
• The Tribal Setup
  
  
• Weekend parades showcase dozens of Mardi Gras Indian gangs (Tuesday March 16, 2004 ) -- A lex Oliver (NOLA.com)

 

Mardi Gras Indian Glossary

• Big Chief: the leader of a particular Indian gang, and often the oldest member
  
  
• Second Chief, etc.: many gangs have underlings of the Big Chief without specific roles, unlike:
  
  

  • Wild Man: member of the gang responsible for clearing a way through the crowd for the Big Chief, identifiable by horns on his suit and/or staff
    
    
  • Flag Boy, First Flag, etc: member that carries the large, usually feathered staffs who conveys contact with rivals gangs spotted by the Spy Boy to the rest of the gang
    
    
  • Spy Boy: member responsible for locating rival gangs and alerting his gang to their whereabouts, so a battle may ensue; often carries a decorated facsimile of a rifle
    
    
  • "Prettiest": the ultimate compliment of a Mardi Gras Indian's costume
    
    
  • "Pretty, pretty": see, "prettiest"
    
    
  • "New Suit": traditionally, Indians make a new costume for each Mardi Gras; in practice, many costumes are composed of pieces from past years' suits. Also a famous Indian song by The Wild Magnolias
    
    
  • Indian songs: there are many traditional Mardi Gras Indian chants that have been recorded by the Wild Magnolias, the Wild Tchoupitoulas, and the Golden Eagles. Some include "Meet The Boys On The Battlefront," "My Big Chief Got A Golden Crown," and "Handa Wanda"
    
    
  • Indian practice: usually weekly gatherings by Indian gangs at neighborhood bars where they practice their chants prior to Mardi Gras; costumes are not worn