The Creole Wild West is recognized as the oldest documented Black Masking Indian tribe in New Orleans, tracing its roots back to around 1885. As the first tribe, they are considered the mother of the entire Mardi Gras Indian tradition.

Over more than a century, the Creole Wild West has produced many respected chiefs and has given rise to countless other tribes as members branched off to start their own. Their long history makes them a living link to the earliest days of the culture.

Today, under leaders including Big Chief Howard Miller, the Creole Wild West continues to mask on Mardi Gras morning and Super Sunday, honoring the ancestors who first took to the streets in hand-sewn suits well over a hundred years ago.