Pretty Krewes:

A look at the work of Black Masking Indian tribes

Luke Joia, Contributing Photographer

April 29, 2026

Two wild men, (Left-CTC Hunters/Right-9th Ward Black Hatchets) greeting each other before step off at Downtown Super Sunday. (Luke Joia)

A member of the CTC Hunters, with a unique half-skull mask, made from a variety of different colors. (Luke Joia)

Spy boy for the CTC Hunters, Spy Boy Jai shows off his threads around Bayou St. John ahead of Downtown Super Sunday. (Luke Joia)

A member of a masking crew, showcasing their art through beadwork and remarkable sowing during Saint Joseph’s Night. (Luke Joia)

The city of New Orleans gathers a few times every year to see the amazing works of art that tell stories of struggle, resistance, and ancestry. (Luke Joia)

A wild man for the 9th Ward Black Hatchets, keeping a watchful eye on the crowd at this year’s Uptown Super Sunday. (Luke Joia)

Spy Boy Dee, of the 9th Ward Black Hatchets, greeting members of the crowd as him and the rest of his crew stroll around Uptown, New Orleans. (Luke Joia)

A couple, using their talent, passed down to them to create these amazing suits, filled with purple and white feathers, telling the story of their ancestors. (Luke Joia)

A closer look at the work of Chuck Jones, who holds the position of Wildman, with the 9th Ward Black Hatchets.

Luke Joia
A closer look at the work of Chuck Jones, who holds the position of Wildman, with the 9th Ward Black Hatchets.

Luke Joia
A closer look at the work of Chuck Jones, who holds the position of Wildman, with the 9th Ward Black Hatchets.

Luke Joia
A closer look at the work of Chuck Jones, who holds the position of Wildman, with the 9th Ward Black Hatchets.

Luke Joia
A closer look at the work of Chuck Jones, who holds the position of Wildman, with the 9th Ward Black Hatchets.

Luke Joia

A member of the Black Osceolas, waiting on word from their Big Chief, to move onto the Downtown Super Sunday route.

art

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