Mardi Gras Indian Tribes Unite: Indian Red Prayer | Honoring Freedom Rider Jerome Big Duck Smith

Experience the soul of New Orleans as Mardi Gras Injun (Indian) Tribes come together to perform the sacred Indian Red Prayer and other traditional hymns. This powerful video features performances and appearances by some of the premiere culture bearers of this historic New Orleans tradition.

Jerome Big Duck Smith was one of the Freedom Riders, a group of civil rights activists who rode interstate buses in the South during the early 1960s to challenge segregation laws. Smith, a Native American from the Muscogee Creek Nation, was particularly notable for his involvement as one of the first people to join the 1961 Freedom Rides, which sought to test the Supreme Court ruling that declared segregation on public buses unconstitutional. Smith’s bravery in facing violence and arrest was part of the larger movement for racial equality and justice in the United States. His participation in the Freedom Rides helped bring attention to the deeply entrenched racism in the South and played a significant role in the broader civil rights movement.

Big Chief Jeremy Stevenson of the Monogram Hunters Big Chief Keitoe Jones of the 9th Ward Seminoles Big Queen Kalindah Laveaux Big Chief Roderick Sylvas of the Wild Tchoupitoulas Big Chief Juan Pardo of the Golden Comanche Big Chief Victor Harris (Spirit of Fi Yi Yi) of the Mandingo Warriors This special gathering is dedicated to blessing the first day of Carnival while also honoring living legend and Freedom Fighter, Mr. Jerome (Big Duck) Smith, a Civil Rights Freedom Rider whose legacy continues to inspire.

Immerse yourself in the vibrant traditions, music, and unity of the Mardi Gras Injun (Indian) culture—a true celebration of resilience, history, and spirit.