The Mardi Gras Indians:
Brothers’ & Sisters’ Association
Greetings From The Founders & Co-Founders:
Ivory Holmes (Wildman), President.
Dwight Carter (Medicineman), Vice-President.
Georgia Taylor (Big Queen), Secretary.
Our History:The birth of the Mardi Gras Indians Brothers' & Sisters' Association, developed out of deep sympathy and shared sorrow for the millions of dollars of losses in Indian Suits, materials, and bead work. The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina left great devastation within the culture of our society. It was out of the need to unite Tribal Members of our community that our Society’s Association has been created.
It is the love of our Nation, and by the blood we share between our Indian Nation, and it is out of the marriages, that the Order of Masking is the crowning glory between the Native-American and the African-American. We hope and pray that the practice of our culture will never be forgotten, nor pass away; not until Resurrection Day. On the day of our Association’s development, our conversation went something like this: [Brother Dwight (Medicineman) speaking with Brother Ivory (Wild)]
IH: "What, Medicine?"
DC: "What can we do about our people? You know
it’s all about family now."
IH: "What you mean?"
DC: "We got Chiefs
& Tribe Members scattered all over everywhere. We need to organize a club or
something."
IH: "I know what! We can form a Mardi Gras Indians Society."
DC: "Yeah! Let’s call it 'The Brothers & Sisters Association Of The
Mardi Gras Indians.'"
Thus, on Saturday, September 30, 2006, we held our Association’s First Ball & Gala, and even to this day we thank our supporters. It is the agenda and ambition of this Association to help our members, by whatever means available. Non-active members might be asked to help the members of the active Order Of Masking if they are available. Our non-active members shall as a group enjoy whatever our activities are: parties, balls, picnics, and the like.
The history of the Mardi Gras Indians goes back much farther than those who would argue our history started after Buffalo Bill’s Wild, Wild West Show stopped in New Orleans on its way to the European continent; not so. It all began with a man called York.
York, a tall, status-free Black man of color was the caretaker with the Lewis & Clark Expedition, 1804–1806. York’s duties were quite varied, from making sure the expedition had enough food, supplies, horses, and mules to make the journey, to collecting medicinal herbs and providing food, tracking, and hunting. Upon a chance meeting with a historical figure Sacajawea on this journey, we learn that York was the first Black man Sacajawea of the Shoshone had ever seen.
It happened early one morning while York was washing up at the bank of a river that Sacajawea, early in her first trimester of pregnancy, knelt down beside York and began placing sand on her apron. Sacajawea then took York by the arm, and then began to rub his skin with the sand as though it was the only way she could remove the blackness from his body with such an application. She found her efforts failing. Now Sacajawea had more questions than ever; questions of a deeper curiosity and fascination. Her first question was: "Man called ‘York’, I have seen the Totem poles and heard our elders speak of a land across the great water: the home of our ancestors. Man called ‘York’, are you from that land?"
York replied, "Yes!".
With glee and excitement, Sacajawea said, "Then you are the roots of our ancestors." This discovery was news Sacajawea could not keep to herself, and it spread like wildfire from camp to Indian camp, throughout the Anasazi Nation. Sacajawea, Shoshone of the Anasazi, soon became a guide for the Lewis & Clark Expedition.
The news of Sacajawea traveling with a father root of their nation gave way to a big celebration. In each camp where they stopped, the right of passage was granted the expedition throughout their journey west, primarily due to the ensuing excitement and great popularity which preceded each arrival of York to every new tribe along the expedition. Over one hundred years later, we of the Mardi Gras Indians perform this ritual in our ‘Practice Of The Right Of Passage’ Dance. Spyboy meets Spyboy at the front of the Procession, each getting the name of the Tribe before him. While the Spy reports to his respective Chief, the Wildman rotates to the front to dance with the Wildman of the Tribe before him. This procedure moves up the rank, Flagboy meeting Flagboy, Gangflag meeting Gangflag, until each respective member has met and danced and all flanks surrounding their Chiefs are closed. An aisle is formed, and the ‘Dance Of The Chiefs’ takes place, after which their greetings and compliments are exchanged.
After Lewis & Clark completed their expedition for Jefferson, it was York who returned with Sacajawea and child to her Shoshone people. The amalgamation with Sacajawea, a Shoshone of the Anasazi Nation, produced what would become the first offspring of African and Native-American blood and lineage, although York’s prowess, popularity, and status among the people of the Indian Tribes created numerous occasions for him to father children among these Native-American tribes, which led to a combination of African and Native-American bloodlines and heritage for all time. This is the origination and beginning of what we have come to know and appreciate as the Mardi Gras Indians.
