Mohawk Hunters News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

This year is the 30th anniversary of the Essence Festival of Culture in New Orleans.

Spotty rain on Saturday could be a minor problem for St. Patrick’s Day parades in the city. Heavier rain could impact Super Sunday, a big day for Mardi Gras Indians.

Super Sunday on the Westbank was dedicated to the three children lost in the Mississippi River one year ago — and all children in New Orleans.

The Black Masking Indians of New Orleans Carnival—some say Mardi Gras Indians—are neighborhood groups with roots in the late 19th century that include a Chief, a Queen, and roles like Flag Boy, Spy Boy, and Wildman. The Indians are on foot dressed in large, complex, beaded suits depicting Black and Native American histories as warriors with a crown of feathers. They sing, backed by a handmade rhythm section. I walked with Big Chief Tyrone Casby, an educator in everyday life, among his tribe, the Mohawk Hunters, their families and friends in Algiers, on the West Bank of New Orleans.

A WWOZ video of Black Masking Indians is showing at this year's Venice Biennale, among the world's most prestigious international art exhibits.