Gallery
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
Mardi Gras Indian culture runs deep, and not all the tribe members are men! WGNO's Stephanie Oswald had the pleasure and honor to spend time with the Big Queen of the 8th Ward Black Seminole tribe But for Angel Chung Cutno, better known as Big Queen of the 8th Ward Black Seminole Tribe, the lead-up to Mardi Gras is about finishing her Black Masking Indian suit, a project she’s been Big Chief Demond Melancon hand beading a part of his Mardi Gras Indian suit. (C)2019 GILES CLEMENT/DEMOND MELANCON. In 2008, after Hurricane Katrina’s devastation, Melancon returned to masking. She is the Big Queen of the Creole Osceola tribe of the famed Mardi Gras Indians of New Orleans, asserting a status determined by her mother’s legacy as well as by her role. Sometimes called Black Indians, the Mardi Gras Indians are African Americans who mask (parade) in New Orleans during Carnival, wearing elaborate handmade suits of beads A Mardi Gras Indian at a New Orleans jazz festival in 2011 Tulane Public Relations via Wikimedia Commons under CC BY 2.0 tribes boast a big chief, a queen and a banner-brandishing flag When you think of Black Masking Indians, images of the Big Chiefs with the biggest plumes may come to mind. "I had only seen men before," said Tahj WIlliams known in the Mardi Gras Indian In 2022, Mardi Gras parades were back after the pandemic but, in our opinion, that’s not the only thing that made this year’s Carnival historic. To us, it will be remembered as the year the world saw the first spy queen. That honor goes to 25-year-old Jasmine Batiste of the Mardi Gras Indian tribe the Wild Magnolias. NEW ORLEANS — The St. Charles Baptist Church will open its doors and invite the community to meet the Mardi Gras Indian Queens. Big Queen Gina Montana of the Yellow Pocahontas and Big Queen But on the two most sacred Indian dates—Mardi Gras Day and St. Joseph’s Night—the individual tribes set their own schedules, routes, and priorities. It’s all about starting the day (or evening) with the drum-driven kickoff hymn “Indian Red” and then rolling out to hunt for other tribes and backstreet face-offs. In New Orleans, some African Americans mask in elaborate beaded and feathered Mardi Gras Indian suits, roving the city to sing, dance, drum and perform. The tradition, a central part of the Black Carnival experience in New Orleans since at least the late 1800s, is believed to have started in part as a way to pay homage to area Native Americans The body of Big Queen Kim 'Cutie' Boutte of the Spirit of the Fi Yi Yi and Mandingo Warriors Mardi Gras Indian tribe is escorted to Congo Square following her funeral at the Treme Community Center Boutte, the big queen of the Spirit of Fi Yi Yi black-masking Indians, was a recognized figure in the tribe and community. Her uncle, Big Chief Victor Harris, said Boutte began masking as the Local New Orleans artist and Black Masking Indian queen Tahj Williams gives her go-to spots for food, music and culture in the city ahead of Super Bowl LIX.Mardi Gras Indian queen highlights the Kim 'Cutie' Boutte, Big Queen of the Spirit of the Fi Yi Yi and Mandingo Warriors Mardi Gras Indian tribe, was laid to rest Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020, following funeral services at the Treme Indians would meet on Mardi Gras; it was a day to settle scores." - Larry Bannock, Past President, New Orleans Mardi Gras Indian Council. Masking Indian Indians Ranks Super Sunday Keep-N-It-Real Indian Videos. Mardi Gras is full of secrets, and the Mardi Gras Indians are as much a part of that secrecy as any other carnival organization. Have students research major figures in New Orleans Mardi Gras Indian history, including Big Chief Tootie Montana, Big Chief Bo Dollis, Sr., Big Chief Jolly Landry, and Big Chief Monk Boudreaux. While learning more about these Big Chiefs, students should explore how these Big Chiefs help move forward the culture and traditions of Mardi Gras Family, friends and fans let go of balloons during the vigil for Kim Boutte, 55, big queen of the Spirit of Fi Yi Yi Mardi Gras Indian tribe, at Hunter's Field in New Orleans, Wednesday, Aug. 12 Yellow Pocahontas Mardi Gras Indian Queen Gina Montana holds her favorite suits from 2009 in front of a Beasts of the Southern Wild poster at her Mid-City home on Tuesday, February 25, 2014. Big Queen Laurita Dollis, left, of the Wild Magnolias Mardi Gras Indians Tribe meets Big Queen Laurie Kaufman of the Red Cheyenne on St. Bernard Ave in the 7th Ward on Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, in Mardi Gras Community Event. Join us for a presentation and Q&A with two Mardi Gras Indian Queens - Big Queen Gina Montana of the Yellow Pocahontas and Big Queen Cinnamon Black of the Mandingo Warriors. Learn more about this special and historic New Orleans tradition as we begin the Mardi Gras season!
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |