Who Are the Mardi Gras Indians?

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Drums start the beat, chants of “Iko Iko” can be heard and Big Chief takes to the street with his tribe.  Unlike the elaborate parade with floats that navigate the streets of downtown New Orleans, the Mardi Gras Indians march mostly within their neighborhoods, engaging in confrontations of words, rhymes and dance with other tribes from surrounding neighborhoods.  In this way, they honor their heritage and that of the Native Americans who once gave them a safe haven. 

Within the tribe, there are very specific roles: Spy Boy, who goes ahead of his tribe and keeps on the lookout for other tribes; Flag Boy, who relays messages from Spy Boy to the other members of his tribe with his flag; and Wild Man and Trail Chief who also work to communicate messages to the tribe through hand signals, whoops, chants and dance.  Once two tribes meet, the Big Chiefs from each tribe engage in an elaborate showdown, strutting and swaggering like peacocks, until one chief acknowledges the other as the “prettiest”.

Their battle chants have even inspired popular songs including “Iko Iko” and “Hey Pocky Way”, which have made their way into the mainstream and include lyrics that are tribal code.  For example, in “Iko Iko”: My flag boy told your flag boy I'm gonna set your flag on fire”.

When Fat Tuesday arrives, think of the Mardi Gras Indians, resplendent in their brilliantly colored costumes as they take to the streets dancing and chanting. 

Here is a glimpse or what you would see and hear if you were there: