Big Chief Allison Tootie Montana

I became interested in the Jazz Funeral of Tootie Montana not only because the whole aspect of Jazz Funerals facitnate me as a whole, but the funeral actually happened on my birthday. He was one of the most important figures to come from the Mardi Gras Indians, so it was no doubt in my mind that his funeral was extravagant. 

 Big Chief Allison Tootie Montana with one of
his many extravagant Mardi Gras Indian costumes. 

He died June 27th, due to a heart attack, at the podium in New Orleans City Hall while addressing the City Council about the foul treatment of Mardi Gras Indians by the police. His last known words were "This has to stop!", then following this hundreds of people attended a mass and his funeral on the 9th of July.

As the Jim Crow laws got bigger in the city the Indian presence of New Orleans got bigger as well. Tootie didn't agree with these laws one bit, so he decided to strike back in the most non-violent way as possible. He emerged and changed the game from battling with knives and guns to battling with skill, piece of mind and craftsmanship. He became known as the peaceful warrior and was crowned first and only Chief of Chiefs. At funeral one of the pastors so kindly stated: "The Chief of Chiefs is being sent to see the Kind and the Lord of Lords."