Culture Bearer Implementation Grant
Big Chief Al Pilote will design and create an original Black Masking Indian suit for Carnival 2026, continuing over 30 years of cultural tradition and artistic excellence. This project includes months of hand-beading, suit construction, and storytelling rooted in African and Native American heritage. With the award, Big Chief Pilote will source high-quality materials—beads, feathers, fabric, and accessories—and document the creative process. The suit will debut publicly on Mardi Gras Day and Super Sunday 2026, serving as a vibrant expression of cultural pride, resistance, and spiritual reverence in New Orleans’ historic Black Masking Indian tradition.