Members of the Black Masking Indians community, also known as Carnival or Mardi Gras Indians, remember Big Queen Kim “Cutie” Boutte of the Spirit of the Fi Yi Yi and Mandingo Warriors tribe at Hunter’s Field in the 7th Ward and the Treme neighborhood of New Orleans August 12, 2020.
Members of the black-masking Indians community also known as Carnival or Mardi Gras Indians remember Big Queen Kim Cutie Boutte of the Spirit of the Fi Yi Yi and Mandingo Warriors tribe at Hunters Field in the 7th Ward and the Treme neighborhood of New Orleans August 12, 2020. Queen Boutte, 55, was attending a funeral repast and was shot and killed by gunman shooting randomly from a car in the parking lot in New Orleans East yesterday, another man was injured in the shooting and is in stable condition. Boutte masked since age 5, under her uncle Big Chief Victor Harris, center, and she eventually became the Big Queen. Boutte was a member of the Tambourine and Fan group started by Jerome Smith at Hunters Field and the Treme Center. Smith started the first Indians Super Sunday parades in 1969, which often ended at Hunters Field. The Indians did the best to keep the crowd moving and keep their social distance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Balloons spelling out KIM were released and the Queens of the Nation formed a circle with candles to honor Queen Kim. Photos by Matthew Hinton
Queens of the Nation formed a circle with candles to honor Queen Kim. Photos by Matthew Hinton
Queens of the Nation formed a circle with candles and balloons to honor Queen Kim. Photos by Matthew Hinton
Fi Yi Yi second queen Resa Cinnamon Black Bazile is comforted as she holds a picture of Queen Kim Boutte. Photos by Matthew Hinton
Baby Dolls attend a memorial honoring Queen Kim Boutte. Photo by Matthew Hinton
Bo Dollis, Jr. sings in a memorial honoring Queen Kim Boutte. Photo by Matthew Hinton
Queens of the Nation including Kelly Pearson, Queen of the Creole Osceolas, left, formed a circle with candles and balloons to honor Queen Kim. Photos by Matthew Hinton
Queens of the Nation formed a circle with candles and balloons to honor Queen Kim. Photos by Matthew Hinton
Sam Jackson, of the Black Feather Mardi Gras Indians, right, is followed by a brass band as he travels down Claiborne Ave. in a memorial for FiYiYi Big Queen Kim Boutte. Photo by Matthew Hinton
Albert Polite Chief Spy Boy of the Fi Yi Yi and the Mandingo Warriors Mardi Gras Indians use a stick to keep the crowd moving and separated as he travels down Claiborne Ave. in a memorial for FiYiYi Big Queen Kim Boutte pictured in photos, left, and top. Photo by Matthew Hinton
Queen Cherice Harrison-Nelson Guardians of the Flame Maroon Society of Mardi Gras Indians wears a Plague Doctor mask with a bird-like beak mask that in the past was used to hold herbal remedies believed at the time to ward of disease. The Maroon Queen dances in a memorial for FiYiYi Big Queen Kim Boutte. Photo by Matthew Hinton
People attend the memorial and second line of Fi Yi Yi Big Queen Kim Boutte.
Photo by Matthew Hinton
Thaddeus Ramsey, of the Black Feather Mardi Gras Indian tribe, holds up a photograph of Queen Kim Boutte, during a memorial and second line through the Treme neighborhood.
Photo by Matthew Hinton
Queens of the Nation formed a circle with candles and balloons to honor Queen Kim. Photos by Matthew Hinton
Queens of the Nation formed a circle with candles and balloons to honor Queen Kim Boutte, including three that spelled out KIM. Photos by Matthew Hinton
People attend the memorial and second line of Fi Yi Yi Big Queen Kim Boutte.
Photo by Matthew Hinton
Thaddeus Ramsey, of the Black Feather Mardi Gras Indian tribe, left, allows a person walk underneath his legs during a memorial and second line through the Treme neighborhood for Queen Kim Boutte.
Photo by Matthew Hinton
People attend the memorial and second line of Fi Yi Yi Big Queen Kim Boutte.
Photo by Matthew Hinton
Sam Jackson, of the Black Feather Mardi Gras Indians, right, is followed by a brass band as he travels down Claiborne Ave. in a memorial for FiYiYi Big Queen Kim Boutte. Photo by Matthew Hinton
People attend the memorial and second line of Fi Yi Yi Big Queen Kim Boutte.
Photo by Matthew Hinton
Troy Ancar, who was identified as Bouttes husband, center, attends the memorial and second line of Fi Yi Yi Big Queen Kim Boutte.
Photo by Matthew Hinton
Jennifer Jones dances on a car as attends the memorial and second line of Fi Yi Yi Big Queen Kim Boutte.
Photo by Matthew Hinton
People attend the memorial and second line of Fi Yi Yi Big Queen Kim Boutte.
Photo by Matthew Hinton
Fi Yi Yi Big Queen Kim Boutte dances on Claiborne Ave in New Orleans on Mardi Gras, Feb. 25, 2020. Photo by Matthew Hinton
Fi Yi Yi Big Queen Kim Boutte dances during Super Sunday in New Orleans, Sunday, March 17, 2019. Photo by Matthew Hinton
Fi Yi Yi Big Queen Kim Boutte dances on Claiborne Ave in New Orleans on Mardi Gras, Feb. 25, 2020. Photo by Matthew Hinton
Fi Yi Yi Big Queen Kim Boutte dances during Super Sunday in New Orleans, Sunday, March 17, 2019 with her uncle Big Chief Victor Harris, right. Photo by Matthew Hinton
Fi Yi Yi Big Queen Kim Boutte dances on Claiborne Ave in New Orleans on Mardi Gras, Feb. 25, 2020. Photo by Matthew Hinton
Reports said Queen Boutte, 55, was attending a funeral repast and was shot and killed by a gunman shooting randomly from a car in the parking lot in New Orleans East Tuesday. Another man was injured in the shooting and is in stable condition, officials said. Boutte had masked since age 5 under her uncle, Big Chief Victor Harris, center, and she eventually became the Big Queen. Boutte was a member of the Tambourine and Fan group started by Jerome Smith at Hunter’s Field and the Treme Center. Smith started the first Indians Super Sunday parades in 1969, which often ended at Hunter’s Field. The Indians did the best to keep the crowd moving and keep their social distance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Balloons spelling out “KIM” were released and the Queens of the Nation formed a circle with candles to honor Queen Kim.
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Matthew Hinton is a New Orleans area freelance photographer whose work has been recognized by the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) Best of Photojournalism Awards in 2014 and 2016, and by numerous awards from the Press Club of New Orleans, including the Hal Ledet President's Print Photography Award, the highest honor the Press Club can bestow upon a photographer.
Matthew Hinton has previously been a staff photographer at both of the daily newspapers in New Orleans. His work has appeared nationally and internationally through freelance work with the Associated Press and AFP, Agence France-Presse.
