The "us" in the title represents the staff and students of Marshall Middle School and Xavier University. The Mardi Gras Indians have traveled from violence to peace. Therefore, we formed a relationship with the Mardi Gras Indians because we felt we could learn a vital lesson from them, the lesson of resolving conflicts without the use of violence.
In the late 1800's, black men in New Orleans formed groups that costumed as Native Americans on Mardi Gras day. In their costume designs they honored Native Americans like the Choctaws and the Seminoles. Their beaded, feathered and fantastical suits also reflected a West African sense of style. On Mardi Gras day they would sing and play drums and tambourines while they parade. Before Mardi Gras day, the Indians would hold practice. The Chief would open the practice with a special song titled Indian Red, this is a prayer song honoring various gang members, past and present, and asking for peace and justice. On Mardi Gras day, however, a fight sometimes resulted when tribes crossed paths. Two-Way Pocky Way, is one of the popular chants; it comes from words which mean, "Get out of the way or we'll kill you." Some have said that the French word Tuer means "to kill" and possibly the Creole Indians were using that word and the word "Pocky" refers to the white man, whom Indians and African-Americans were angry with because of oppresion and slavery.
LET US HEAR FROM YOU. DO YOU KNOW WHAT TUER OR POCKY WAY MEANS?
In recent decades when the Indian tribes meet on the street they show off with dancing and singing, as well as by display and comparing costumes. That is one of the reasons why they are so important to us. They found a way to transcend violence and to improve their lives and the quality of the people in their/our community. This is what we wanted them to teach us.
We invited several Mardi Gras Indian tribes to Marshall to launch our partnership with them. The Chief of the Guardian of the Flames and the Cheyenne Indians came to our school. The activities included a chant, signing of the contract, a second-line around the school and dedication of the computers.
Our students started learning how to bead and what the panels of the indian costume meant. Later we had a dedication service at Xavier. Our coach from the Apple Pie Retreat, Ted Jojola, came to visit and observe Super Sunday. At the dedication service we learned that the Mardi Gras Indians and the Native American indians had so much in common. The Mardi Gras Indian tribe's hierachy was patterned directly after the Native American Indians, as well as the of use of certain colors in the tribe and singing certain songs.
For more information on the Mardi Gras Indians visit these websites:
New Orleans Online Catalog - About Mardi Gras
A "Black" Mardi Gras -- the Mardi Gras Indians' History in New Orleans