Fair Feathers
A Guide to Mardi Gras Indians at Jazz Fest
By Geraldine Wyckoff
 |
|
Big Chief Peppy leads the Golden Arrow Mardi Gras Indians at 1 p.m. Sunday.
|
For more than a century, black Mardi Gras Indians have been an integral part of New Orleans culture. Their rich traditions and craftsmanship are on display at Jazz Fest as 19 Indian “gangs,” along with several Indian percussion groups, parade around the Fair Grounds.
While its origins are often debated, most agree that the Indian culture began when slaves, who had sought refuge with Native American tribes, returned to New Orleans after the Civil War. On Carnival Day some of these men “masked” as Indians, to celebrate their adopted heritage and pay respect to those who had sheltered them.
Through the decades the handmade Indian “suits” and “crowns” (headdresses) have become increasingly elaborate. These feathered, beaded and brightly colored works of art are one way the 40-plus New Orleans gangs compete with one another. The Indians relate their history in song to the thunder of tambourines, augmented by “second-line” supporters.
Here are the Mardi Gras Indians parading this weekend:
Saturday 1 p.m.
Bayou Renegades and the Young Hunters
Bayou Renegades — Norwood “Geechie” Johnson is best recognized as the drummer who supplies the thunderous bass beat behind the Wild Magnolias Mardi Gras Indian gang and performance group. He’s been with Big Chief Bo Dollis’ Wild Magnolias for the past 28 years and is heard singing and drumming on the Magnolias’ 1999 album, Life Is a Carnival (Metro Blue). Here, Geechie leads an Indian percussion ensemble.
Young Hunters — Big Chief Keith “Bird” Sanford, who once masked with the Carrollton Hunters, established this gang five years ago to expand the Indian tradition. The chief’s suit is gold this year, set off with a patch depicting a slave helping a Native American. His gang also includes a medicine man wearing blue and gold, a wildman in orange, two spy boys in blue and a flag boy in pink.
Indians of the Nation, Red, White and Blue, and White Cloud Hunters
Indians of the Nation — Big Chief Smiley Ricks is the force behind this performance ensemble, which recently released an album including saxophonist Donald Harrison Jr. titled Feathercraft. Chief Smiley isn’t masking but sings and plays drums with masked Indians — brothers Curtis and Reggie Williams of the Young Cheyenne and Troy Young of the Mohawk Hunters.
Red, White & Blue — One of the oldest gangs on the street, the Red, White and Blue was inactive for several periods, but was brought back in 1973 and is now rejuvenated. Big Chief Jackie Green leads the Red, White and Blue and says, “We’re just trying to keep the culture and the name going.” The gang’s first chief is Donald Sandford.
White Cloud Hunters — Big Chief “Little Charles” Taylor, who began masking with the Yellowjackets when he was 3 years old, has “old-time Indian” ways. He brought the White Cloud Hunters out in 1984 and keeps to tradition in both his songs and style. Big Chief Charles is a strong singer who can really project his voice through a crowd. The White Cloud Hunters come from New Orleans’ Sixth Ward.
Sunday 1 p.m.
Golden Arrows and the Seminole Warriors
Golden Arrows — Big Chief Peppy (Estabon Eugene) leads an amazing 15 masked Indians in the Golden Arrows gang, with additional percussion and backup vocalists. Big Chief Peppy established the Golden Arrows in 1994 after time spent as a flagboy with the Wild Magnolias and spyboy with the Creole Wild West. In 2001, The big chief honored his late uncle Robert “Robbe” Lee, chief of chiefs on the Mardi Gras Indian Council, with a rhinestoned and beaded vest that bore his name and image. Seminole Warriors — Big Chief Yam, who has been masking Indian for 20 years and was once the second chief of the Creole Wild West, formed the Seminole Warriors six years ago. For Carnival 2001, the chief came out in a white-and-red suit with pretty ruffles. This Uptown gang from New Orleans’ 10th Ward will include a first and second spyboy, a wildman and a flagboy. The chief’s children also will participate in an eight-man second line, wielding tambourines and backing up on vocals.
3 p.m.
Wild Apaches, Yellowjackets and Creole Wild West
Wild Apaches — Veteran Big Chief Ray “Hatchet” Blazio Jr. leads this downtown gang that he formed in 1991. Like the big chief, Li’l Chief Reginald Blouin and Li’l Queen Careyan Stockman wore orange suits this Carnival. Big Chief Hatchet, who is a singing Indian, has been masking since 1961, first coming out as a flagboy with the Yellow Pocahontas.
Yellowjackets — “I still like the old style,” says Big Chief Thomas Sparks of this downtown Indian gang. The Yellowjackets originally came out in the Third Ward in 1931, but moved to the Sixth in 1956.
Creole Wild West — Formed in the 1800s, the Creole Wild West is the oldest Mardi Gras Indian gang on the streets. The great voice of Big Chief Walter “Little Walter” Cook leads this traditional gang. The chief began masking in 1963 with the Wild Magnolias and was chief of the Golden Sioux.
|
