Read, Read, Read: Sixth Annual Big Chief and Big Queen Book Presentation Ceremony

For a second year, actor Clarke Peters, "Guardians of the Flame Big Chief Albert Lambreaux" on the HBO television series Tremé, will join the membership of the Mardi Gras Indian Hall of Fame at McDonogh 42 Elementary Charter School for our Annual Big Chief and Big Queen Holiday Book Presentation Ceremony in cooperation with the Big Chief Donald Harrison, Senior Book Program of the Guardians Institute.

This year, our program features John Henry, 

the 1990 Caldecott Honor Book by Julius Lester, 

illustrated by Jerry Pinkney.

When: Thursday, December 1, 2011

Time: 9:30 - 11:00 am

Where: Auditorium, McDonogh 42 Charter Elementary School

All Mardi Gras Indians, supporters, and friends from the public are welcome to join us in this ceremony sharing the joy and importance of reading with McDonogh 42 students.

We request that everyone participating conduct him or herself in accordance with and with respect for school rules and student safety.

The Guardians Institute is a non-profit organization founded by Herreast J. Harrison and the late Big Chief Donald Harrison, Senior through the spirit of the Guardians of the Flame Mardi Gras Indian gang. It has worked for over 20 years to preserve, celebrate, and advance the indigenous cultural arts of New Orleans. Its outreach programs utilize comprehensive arts and literacy activities in service to New Orleans children in grades K-12. Since 2006, the Big Chief Donald Harrison, Senior Book Program of the Guardians Institute has distributed over twenty-eight thousand books valued at over a quarter-million dollars to children in the Greater New Orleans area. Contributions to the Book Program and other projects of the Guardians Institute are tax-deductible. 

The 2011 program is made possible with support from Basin Street Station, New Orleans Musicians Assistance Foundation, NOLArize, NDM, Kerry Clayton, and Paige Royer.

For more information, please contact Cherice Harrison-Nelson (504) 214-6630



SNAPSHOTS FROM PAST PROGRAMS


"Read, Read, Read!" Creole Osceolas Big Chief Clarence "Delco" Dalcour takes the lead supported by Chiefs, Queens, and Indians of the Nation at McDonogh 42 Charter School in New Orleans (December 2009)


 Listen to Clarke Peters reading to students at McDonogh 42 New Orleans (Dec 2010)

Black Feather Big Chief Lionel Delpit has become an ancestor

The Mardi Gras Indian Nation celebrated the life of Black Feather Big Chief Lionel Delpit in New Orleans,  Saturday, July 16, 2011. Photo by Michael Luke for WWL-TV.

After a long and courageous battle with several health issues, Black Feather Big Chief Lionel Delpit became an ancestor on July 7, 2011.

Big Chief Delpit started masking as a member of the Yellow Pocahontas group before establishing the Black Feather in 1992. He was known for his elaborate three-dimensional suits, spirited dancing, and soulful singing. He performed as part of numerous events throughout his lifetime, as local as the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and as far away as a festival in Martinique. Recently, he was one of the Big Chiefs honored as part of the City of New Orleans Katrina V commemoration. He appeared in Season One of the HBO series Tremé in the scene in which real Big Chiefs join "Big Chief Albert Lambreaux" in singing "Indian Red" at the home of his Wild Man who perished in Katrina.

Memorial Indian practices/community processions will be held daily on the corner of Frenchmen and North Robertson Streets until the funeral.

Trouble Nation Big Chief Markeith Tero is serving as the funeral liaison for the Mardi Gras Indian Hall of Fame.
 
All condolences to Big Chief Delpit's family, gang members, and friends.

Funeral for Big Chief Lionel Delpit


Friday, July 15, 2011
6-8 pm Visitation

Professional Funeral Services
1620 Elysian Fields Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70117


Saturday, July 16, 2011
9:00 am Visitation
10:00 am Service
Followed by a traditional Mardi Gras Indian funeral ritual and procession

Abiding Faith Temple
2501 Urquhart St.
New Orleans, LA 70117

Big Chief Delpit's feature obituary in the New Orleans Times-Picayune

 Photo essay on Big Chief Delpit's Funeral Processsion
(Photos by Michael Luke for WWL-TV)

 New Orleans Times-Picayune coverage of Big Chief Delpit's funeral

Louisiana Weekly: "Lionel Delpit, icon of the Mardi Gras Indian
community, dies at age 54"

Offbeat: Big Chief Lionel Delpit Funeral Procession Photos
(Photos by Kim Welsh for Offbeat)