The Tribes

Tootie Montana on Indian Hierarchy:
"You've got first chief, which is Big Chief; First Queen; you've got Second Chief and Second Queen; Third Chief and Third Queen. First, Second, and Third chiefs are supposed to have a queen with them. That's just tradition.I found them doing that. Your fourth chief is not called fourth chief, he's the Trail Chief. From there on it's just Indians, no title. You also have your Spy Boy, your Flag Boy and your Wild Man. Your Spy Boy is way out front, three blocks in front the chief. The Flag Boy is one block in front so he can see the Spy Boy up ahead and he can wave his flag to let the chief know what is going on. Today, they don't do like they used to. Today you're not going to see any Spy Boy with binoculars around his neck and a small crown so he can run. Today a Spy Boy looks like a chief and somebody carrying a big old stick. It's been years since I seen a proper flag. Today everybody has a chief stick. The Wild Man wearing the horns in there to keep the crowd open and to keep it clear. He's between the Flag Boy and the Chief." (Wikipedia)
And/or

"Mardi Gras Indians are secretive because only certain people participated in masking -- people with questionable character. In the old day, the Indians were violent; Indians would meet on Mardi Gras, it was a day to settle scores." - Larry Bannock, President,

LinksTo more Information on the Mardi Gras Indians
List of 40 Known Tribes
On Music
MARDI GRAS INDIANS Tradition and History
Wiki Reference to the Mardi GrasIndian:
Austin Chronicle article on Big Chief Kevin Goodman and Mardi Gras Indian tribal history
John Sinclair on "St. Joseph's Night in New Orleans:Out After Dark with the Wild Indians

Victor "Fi-Yi-Yi" Harris with his tribe, the Mandingo Warriors