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Mardi Gras Indians are groups of Carnival revelers in New Orleans, Louisiana. The mostly African-American organizations are called "tribes".
They dress up in costumes influenced by Native American ceremonial apparel for Mardi Gras. Many of the tribes also parade on Saint Joseph's Day and sometimes one other day a year.
The tribes can range in size from a half dozen to several dozen members. They are largely independent, but a pair of umbrella organizations loosely coordinate the Uptown Indians and the Downtown Indians.
Mardi Gras Indians have been parading in New Orleans at least since the mid 19th century, possibly before. The tradition was said to have originated from an affinity of Africans and Indians as fellow outcasts of the society, and blacks circumventing some of the worst racial segregation laws by representing themselves as Indians. An appearance in town of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in the 1880s was said to have drawn considerable attention and increased the interest in masking as Indians for Mardi Gras.
In the late 19th century and early years of the 20th century Indian tribes were often violent and got into gang fights with each other. As the 20th century progressed, physical confrontation gave way to assertions of status by having better costumes, songs, and dances. It has been remarked that generations ago when Mardi Gras Indians came through neighborhoods people used to run away, now people run towards them for the colorful spectacle.
Tribes have various traditional roles. These include the leader, the "chief", the "spy boy" who goes out in front of the group, and the "wild man".
Generally each Indian makes their own costume, sewing elaborate bead and feather work. Traditionally a new costume is required each year. They were traditionally disassembled to re-use the beads and materials for next year's costume, but in recent years there has been a market for selling costumes after they are worn for display by museums and private collectors.
Traditionally the Indian tribes were male only, but in the late 20th century female Indians began appearing as well.
Additional photo thumbnails
 Indians gathering along Bayou St. John
 Front of "Wildman" costume |
 Back of "Wildman" costume |
See also: New Orleans Mardi Gras
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