At 10:00 am Thursday, January 5, 2012 a resolution
was read in City Council Chambers reaffirming the 2009
proclamation declaring that each January 6 is to be
Allison "Big Chief Tootie" Montana Day
in the City of New Orleans.
T
he
Montana family will lay a wreath
will screen documentaries about
Mardi Gras Indian culture and tradition.
All Indians, supporters, and friends are invited to join the
family and the Yellow Pocahontas at all events.
On June
27, 2005, Allison “Big Chief Tootie” Montana, a cultural warrior and
leader, tragically passed away while he was addressing the New Orleans City Council on
the unwarranted, violent, and illegal assault on Mardi Gras Indians,
neighborhood residents, senior citizens, and children. Big Chief Tootie
was in the middle of recounting half of a century of history of police
harassment and abuse when stricken. His last words were “I want this to
stop.”
Television news cameras captured his fall as the chiefs and others who loved and respected him took up the hymn “Indian Red.”
After his passing, the public hearing was originally scheduled to
reconvene in September of 2005 but, because of Hurricane Katrina, the
levee breach, and the aftermath, a hearing was never rescheduled.
Today, establishing the first day of Carnival/Mardi Gras as the Allison
“Big Chief Tootie” Montana Day will serve as impetus for conversations
among members of the New Orleans City Council, City Administration, the
New Orleans Police Department, and all Cultural Bearers, namely, the
Mardi Gras Indians, to address the lack of understanding and
appreciation for indigenous traditions unique to our city. Most
importantly, these conversations, along with policies and procedures
regarding culture and traditional practices will end the harassment,
disrespect, and cruelty exhibited by some police officers.
Seven years after his passing, those same cruelties Big Chief Tootie spoke of continue today. It must stop!
Allison “Big Chief Tootie” Montana died a warrior’s death in council
chambers fighting for the respect of a cultural tradition that defines
the City of New Orleans. Today the Indian community hopes the city will
provide real and lasting protection and respect for the indigenous
traditions of the Mardi Gras Indians and all Cultural Bearers as well as
develop a profound understanding of those they aim to serve and see the
world as the cultural community sees it. The Mardi Gras Indian
community, supporters, friends and family of Allison "Big Chief Tootie”
Montana appreciates the leadership and commitment of the New Orleans
City Council. Collectively, we look forward to the city taking more
permanent action to ensure that the sacred tradition is forever
respected and protected. Moreover, the yearly acknowledgement and
celebration of the legacy of Allison “Big Chief Tootie” Montana will
spark the interest of the young, perpetuate the “Masking Indian”
tradition, and ensure full protection and respect for New Orleans
indigenous cultural traditions.
Sabrina Mays-Montana, Founder and President
Faces of Culture/Allison Montana Institute of Art, Culture, and Tradition
and Yellow Pocahontas Mardi Gras Indian Tribe
HE'S THE PRETTIEST
A Tribute To Big Chief Allison "Tootie" Montana's 50 Years Of Mardi Gras Indian Suiting
Official Site for
TOOTIE'S LAST SUIT
the 2006 film by Lisa Katzman
