New Orleans Mardi Gras Indians JazzFest 2006

Video clips taken outside New Orleans Jazzfest grounds, backstage at Jazz and Heritage Stage, during Mardi Gras Indian performances onstage and of parades on fairgrounds.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Mardi
• Gras
• New
• Orleans
• Jazzfest

[rocky2fly]

reppin dat N.O. we do it big!!! ya digg

[aaronfast]

i've posted this on another video, but I'll put it here too. This tradition, in how it was presented to me by Sylvester at the Backstreet Cultural Museum (which is as about as deep as it gets in terms of historical mardi gras indians culture) was initially grown from the relationship between escaped slaves, and the Native Americans who helped them along towards freedom. In spending time among them, the fleeing slaves absorbed some of their culture, and upon returning, displayed it in gratitude

[purpleknightmom]

SyrenniaLestrange knows nothing of Louisiana history, that's obvious. Many blacks here have Indian in their blood. Take me for instance, my grandmother was 100% Choctow...from the Bayous of Louisiana.

My mother is half black and half indian.

We are NOLA born and bred.

Big Chief Tootie Montana (a mardi gras indian) also had indian blood.

If he stopped trying to find fault in the culture and try to LEARN it, he would ACTUALLY LEARN WHY THE MARDI GRAS INDIANS MARCH.

[aaronfast]

I'd also make the point that this is a very natural outgrowth of two cultures being exposed to one another. Clearly the tradition has evolved into its own thing. I think listening to Japanese punk rock bands is interesting, as is contemporary West African music that is influenced by hip-hop, etc. There is nothing offensive going on. It's like being offended by a baby that comes from a mixed union. This happens, and their identity evolves over time.

[dj504dj]

Anyway, I just wish you could relax. If you come to Mardi Gras I'm sure you'll change your mind, and if not, maybe you're a little uptight. But just the way you want people to respect your culture, I wish you could respect New Orleans traditions.

[dj504dj]

The obvious implication was that your knowledge was neither prompted or necessary (and actually detracts from the discussion), and was annoying (so yeah I did care and wasn't trying to deny it).

I can't even begin to explain how ridiculous your views are about this...this tradition goes back way longer than we do. It's bigger than us and you obviously don't understand it.

Political Correctness is highly overrated and the Mardi Gras Indians are not an example of it anyway.

[dj504dj]

that was directed to SyrenniaLestrange

[dj504dj]

No one cares. Officious people are ANNOYING.

And stop putting "" where it doesn't belong.

[rammgm]

i am aware of the distiction..not sure what else to say but that video clips were posted to celebrate & share a unique part of new orleans music and culture and were not meant to offend anyone in any way.

[legbasdaughter]

That beat, that beat. Only in New Orleans. may all of the displaced return and keep it going. This is a culture that should not be lost.

[Fluttersbayou]

We, New Orleans people, love the Mardi Gras Indians. Thanks for the rockin' video...Brings me "back home" (from 1000 miles away!)