Cyril Green, the Big Chief of the Black Seminoles Mardi Gras Indian tribe, passed away on March 20, 2013. He was a member of the Mardi Gras Indian Hall of Fame, and was widely known as the only big chief to mask while confined in a wheelchair.
Green was a perennial figure at Mardi Gras Indian events including this year’s St. Joseph Night celebration, which occurred the evening before he passed away.
The members of the cultural community also eagerly awaited his annual performances at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
Green began his career with the Flaming Arrows. He is related to the Goodman family whose members have led the tribe since the 1960s. Yesterday (March 26, 2013), Kevin Goodman, the current big chief of the Flaming Arrows, led a spirited group of Indians in a tribute to the fallen big chief on WWOZ radio.
The photo above depicts Green in street clothes leading one of the traditional Sunday evening practices that lead up to Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
A funeral mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, April 2, 2013 at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 1835 St. Roch Avenue, beginning 11 AM.
Top two photos Jazz Fest 2012: “Baton Rouge” Bill Boelens
