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Mardi Gras Indian Tribe
Photograph by Andrew Owen, American Festivals Project
In March 2009 the American Festivals Project headed to New Orleans, where African Americans have been "masking Indian" for Mardi Gras since the 1880s. Some say the inspiration was a touring Wild West show; others say it was to honor Indians who aided runaway slaves. No one really knows. The Mardi Gras Indian ritual includes songs and dances, fellowship, and rivalry.
The evening of March 19—St. Joseph's Night—is the main event for Mardi Gras Indians. Each tribe, such as the Seventh Ward Creole Hunters, seen here, heads uptown to sing, dance, and square off in showy displays for respect.
Read more about the Mardi Gras Indians on the American Festivals Project blog.
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Headdress
Photograph by Andrew Owen, American Festivals Project
A chief’s headdress lies in the back of a pickup truck at the end of the night. Mardi Gras Indians debut their suits and headdresses on Mardi Gras and conclude on St. Joseph’s Night.
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Creole Hunters
Photograph by Ross McDermott, American Festivals Project
A young man from the Seventh Ward holds the massive blue headdress for Jermaine Cooper Bossier (foreground), the chief of the Seventh Ward Creole Hunters, founded in 2009. Bossier had to ask permission from other chiefs to form his own tribe. There are approximately 38 recognized tribes in New Orleans, all of which range in size from half a dozen to several dozen members.
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Creole Hunter Chief
Photograph by Ross McDermott, American Festivals Project
Chief of the newly established Seventh Ward Creole Hunters, Jermaine Cooper Bossier sings in the street. His headdress and full-body suit weigh approximately 135 pounds (60 kilograms) and took 11 months to create. Each year, tribe members create new suits.
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"Wild Man"
Photograph by Andrew Owen, American Festivals Project
Each tribe member has a traditional role, such as the position of Wild Man, indicated by a staff or headdress with horns. The Wild Man is expected to protect his chief and clear out the crowd when two chiefs square off in competition.
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"Masking Indian"
Photograph by Andrew Owen, American Festivals Project
Designing and creating a costume is serious business for Mardi Gras Indians and can take nearly a year.
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Young Member
Photograph by Andrew Owen, American Festivals Project
Young boys have traditional roles as well, as spy boys and flag boys. The spy boy is assigned to stay three blocks ahead of the chief to look out for oncoming tribes. The flag boy, who stays one block ahead of the chief, receives the signal from the spy boy and communicates it back to the chief and other tribe members.
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First Queen
Photograph by Ross McDermott, American Festivals Project
Kabrisha Gauthier, 14, is the First Queen of the Seventh Ward Creole Hunters. She is the niece of the chief, Jermaine Cooper Bossier. Her primary role? To look beautiful and support the chief in his effort to command respect from other tribes.
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Boy With Bejeweled Gun
Photograph by Ross McDermott, American Festivals Project
In the old days, violence sometimes resulted when tribes met. Today, weapons are decorative.
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