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WATCH: Montana family, Yellow Pocahontas, and Indians of the Nation Gather at Armstrong Park to Observe Big Chief Tootie Montana Day 2012

Video by NOLAFestJunkie

WATCH: Big Chief Tootie Montana honored at the January 5, 2012 New Orleans City Council Meeting

City of New Orleans video via BigRedCotton

 

On Jan. 5, 2012, members of the New Orleans City Council, members of the Montana family, members of the Yellow Pocahontas, Mardi Gras Indians from many other tribes, supporters, and friends gathered in the City Council chambers to pay tribute to the legacy of Allison Marcel Montana, "Big Chief Tootie," "Chief of Chiefs," and Chief of the Yellow Pocahontas Mardi Gras Indian tribe. The first day of Mardi Gras will now be recognized in the City of New Orleans as Tootie Montana Day.

In their comments before the Council, members of the Yellow Pocahontas and the Montana family honored the late Chief by addressing, educating about, and continuing to seek resolution of the long-running conflict between city authorities and the Mardi Gras Indians.

January 6 is Allison "Big Chief Tootie" Montana Day in the City of New Orleans

Photo copyright John McCusker

 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.

WATCH VIDEO

The Montana family will lay a wreath

at the Chief's statue in Armstrong Park
at 4:00 pm on Friday, January 6, 2012.

WATCH VIDEO 

From 5:00-7:00 pm, The Golden Feather
on Rampart Street

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

 

NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS CITATION (1987)

  CHIEF OF CHIEFS
WHY MESS WITH ME? (Interview)
MY KNEE WILL BEND NO MORE
Gambit Weekly, July 11, 2005

  A COLORFUL FAREWELL FOR THE CHIEF OF CHIEFS
New York Times, July 11, 2005

HONORING TOOTIE MONTANA
Gambit Weekly, July 26, 2005

Official Site for
TOOTIE'S LAST SUIT
the 2006 film by Lisa Katzman