VIVA NOLA February-March 2024

Being part of one of the
more than forty Mardi Gras
Indian tribes is passed almost
exclusively from generation to
generation, and it is a tradition
that involves several rituals
that mix African and Native
cultural traditions.
BLACK
MASKING
INDIANS
By AnaMaría Bech
@anamabech
CULTURE
Photography: AnaMaria Bech
Acarnival tradition we should learn more about is
that of the Black Masking Indians, also known
as the Mardi Gras Indians. The fi rst time I saw
them parade, their presence struck me, and I wondered
why their colorful, impressive outfi ts resembled Native
American attire and why they used indigenous names.
I didn’t understand what carnival had to do with Native
cultures, and since then, I tried to fi nd out more about
this tradition. In a city with such a mixture of cultures, the
existence of Mardi Gras Indians makes a lot of sense.
As the story goes, around 1718, the African and Native
communities of Louisiana coexisted because, as they
shared a common experience of enslavement, they
helped each other. Native American tribes provided a
haven for Africans who escaped slavery. For that reason,
they learned from each other’s customs and created
new traditions. The use of beads, feathers, masks, and
headdresses was common in West African cultures, so
making the suit was a tradition that offered some commonality
between the two groups and allowed for the
preservation of African traditions.
According to historical accounts, adopting the indigenous
persona by African descendants was not only done
to hide their identity from enslavers, but it was a way of
paying homage to the tribes that welcomed them and
allowed them to practice their traditions.
The carnival celebration in New Orleans was an exclusive
event for white and affluent people, and elaborate
costumes were a big part of the carnival. For African descendants,
making and wearing Indian suits during the
special celebration symbolized freedom and resistance
as it allowed them to preserve their ancestors’ traditions.
The suit-making tradition has been kept alive for generations.
The Black Masking Indians took to the streets
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