COMMENT:
A couple of years ago I saw on TLC, PBS, or The Discovery Channel
a story about a group of Black Indians in Louisiana. The video
talked about a festival that they held every year (I think in
New Orleans) that was similar in pageantry to the mardi gras.
I remember seeing black men, women, and children very regally
(if that's a word) dressed marching down the street in what
appeared to be a parade. If my memory serves me correct, I believe the tribe was a mixture
of the indigenous people and runaway slaves.
Could you let me know if you have any info about this?
REPLY:
Yes, they were run away slaves. Indians all over the country were keeping run away slaves hidden all the time. In New Orleans there are descendants and friends of these run aways who are known to us as the "Mardi Gras Indians". I've also heard the term "Wild Tchopotulas" used as an unofficial reference to them. They parade at Mardi Gras and other times throughout the year. They spend all year long creating, enhancing and repairing their costumes. It is quite wonderful. They do this as a tribute to the ancestors and descendants of Indians who protected there ancestors, and as a show of how their ancestors were adopted into the tribes as "black Indians".
COMMENT:
I thought your Website looked good and was interesting. As a matter of fact, I was looking it over a couple of days ago concerning the raid at the "POWWOW" in Mississippi.
REPLY:
Thanks! It's important to support the freedoms of everyone. You can find more info on the page dedicated to the Gulfport Raid. Check the Table Of Contents.
COMMENT:
Your page is a dream come true. I am program director for the Boy Scouts of America, Attakapas Council, Cub Scout Summer Day Camp 97'. Our theme is "A Council of Indian Nations" specifically Louisiana Indians.....your page has been truly helpful.. thank you, thank you, thank you.
REPLY:
Wado! What a nice compliment! I'm glad we can be of such benefit. Of course you know the Boy Scouts was started by an Indian. I assume your organization is in Louisiana, so you should take your group to the LIHA powwow this spring.
COMMENT:
"YEA" I think you did a great job on the web page. I cant thank you enough . There arenšt enough people I think, that are working for the advancement of Native American culture, so any place that we can get this type of coverage is just great. All of the other members were very impressed.
REPLY: This e-mail was in reference to our new page we added to this site for Twin Eagles Indian Assoc. You'll find a link to it on our Louisiana Indian Organizations page in the index below. Along with that link is a link to there own web site!
COMMENT:
Thank you for responding so fast. This search has already been very time consuming. ...Please understand that I am not trying to achieve any special compensation by proving an Indian heritage. I just am trying to research the heritage of my family. I would hate to see all knowledge fade away as we fade away. I just wish I had started this when my
grandparents were still on earth.
REPLY:
This comment brought up something I wanted to share with our visitors. We get a lot of requests from people trying to trace Indian blood lines in their family. This person wants to know his heritage, which I respect. LOTS of what we get are people who acctually state that they want some of the imagined financial gain of being on a tribal roll. I tend to brush those people off. There isn't enough to go around to those Wanabe Tibes.
COMMENT:
...I have been to T_____. I've joined the Ban also. I went to your page and downloaded the banner and placed it on our page. I also took the M___ ring, and W____ ring off of our page. I went to each site on them and they were mostly ..."crystals", you know that kind of thing. I didn't want us to be linked to them. I tell you, I want to tell these new agers and wannabes... to "GO GET A LIFE"!! Where do they come up with all of that junk?
Reply:
By the way, the person who sent this comment to me is Indian. On our links page is a link to a very educational letter written by a full-blood Indian woman about the "New Age" movement and Indian ways of life. I suggest EVERYONE read it. It's called: "'New Agers' and Indians". Click the title here to jump to it.
COMMENT:
Who named Bayou Teche, and why is it named that?
REPLY:
The local Indians named it that. Check out our page on Louisiana Indian Names. Also check out "Louisiana Place-Names of Indian Origin" by William A. Reed, Ph.D. It is a great book!
