By joshua bee alafia, 2010, 10 minutes

Big Chief Al Womble of the Cheyenne Hunters Mardi Gras Indians, has been practicing the Mardi Gras Indian culture uptown New Orleans for 30 years. He is a pillar of his community, and actively preserves the culture by training young people in the neighborhood in the suit sewing (suit sewing is the process by which Indians hand sew their elaborate outfits), dance and music. The Mardi Gras Indian tradition has been alive in New Orleans since the 1880s. Today, community warriors like Big Chief Al are fighting to keep this neo-African tradition alive and well. We've made this video to bring awareness to Big Chief’s Al cause and to preserve the cultural heritage of New Orleans.