Big Chief Juan Pardo, born into the tradition and bringing it forward.

By Jann Darsie

Photo by Pableaux Johnson

Notes From Ella is presented with support from the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation

Big Chief Juan Pardo of the Golden Comanche tribe was born into New Orleans’ beloved Black Masking Indian tradition. He grew up experiencing family members’ sewing, dancing, singing and masking. He followed his older brother, Wallace Pardo, who was the Spy Boy in the Golden Arrows tribe under the leadership of Big Chief Eugene “Pepe” Esteban. 

Throughout his career masking, as well as his numerous other artistic pursuits, he said, The Ella Project has been his “lawyer on retention.” Pardo considers The Ella Project team an invaluable resource. They respect the traditions that sprang from New Orleans’ backstreets and work to protect the culture bearers.

Pardo seemed to be destined to become a culture bearer. “I studied what my brother was doing and when Big Chief Esteban stepped down in 2004, Wallace decided to start a new tribe,” he said. Thus, the Golden Comanche tribe was born, and in that year Pardo began masking as the Spy Boy. Five years later, he became the War Chief.

  Then he became the First Chief, which is essentially the number three in the command structure, and usually the youngest of the top three leaders. Normally members rise through the ranks. Brother Wallace decided to retire as Big Chief in 2015, at the same time as the Second Chief of the Golden Comanche did. So Pardo became the Big Chief, without first becoming Second Chief. 

 The tradition is a way of life for the Black Masking Indians. “Masking is our tribal tradition, and there is no separation from the rest of our lives. Although we have modernized the tradition, it is still rooted in the extended family and the everyday part of the community,” he said. “If someone needs a last-minute babysitter, we step in. If someone needs a helping hand, we step in.”

 There is also a strong spiritual aspect to the masking culture, Pardo said. When he begins creating a suit, he draws inspiration from within, seeking a spiritual direction. The designs inevitably start to change, he said, and the suit reveals itself.

 The classic components – jacket, collar, apron and headdress – vary, and Pardo said he is always looking for ways to incorporate new elements. He takes his inspiration from nature as well as global tribal practices.

 “My sketch of the suit I envision becomes my roadmap,” he said, “and once it is complete, it is really a spiritual creation.”

 On Mardi Gras morning, songs and chanting help the members transition into the persona of the Black Masking Indian. The highlight of the ceremony is when the tribe emerges onto the street and forms a circle. They sing the anthemic “Indian Red,” which forms the basis of the blessings and protection for the day’s journey. 

 Pardo was introduced to The Ella Project sometime after Hurricane Katrina, when it hosted a workshop for the Black Masking Indians on how to legally protect images of their suits. “It was then that I first met Ashyle Keaton and I think of the Ella Project as my weapon of choice,” said Pardo.“They always make me feel special, and in the entertainment business you need a ‘lawyer on retainer.’”

 The Ella Project helped him establish a 501(c)(3) organization for the Golden Comanche tribe and was there when he was initiated to take over as the Big Chief. And his list goes on.

 “They advise me on all my legal contracts, both those that I receive and those that I initiate,” he said. The Ella Project lawyers, for example, helped him negotiate a sponsorship contract with a local beverage company.

 Being a part of the Black Masking Indian tradition has opened doors for Pardo both in and beyond his hometown. He has authored a children’s book, When the Morning Comes: A Mardi Gras Indian Story, in which he shares the unique cultural ritual with young readers. He also has acted in the Treme HBO series and in the film Seeking Justice, with Nicholas Cage.

 Talented in many areas, Pardo has an ongoing collaboration with composer Maxim Samarov at the Tulane University Department of Music. They have created a body of work for orchestra in the classical tradition called “Birth of a Culture.” This incorporates dance and ballet and uses a full theatrical multidisciplinary experience to tells a story.

 Pardo also brings the Golden Comanche tribal rhythms to many local recording projects, infusing Indian chants and percussion with New Orleans funk. He has recorded and performed with such artists as Galactic, the New Orleans Suspects and 101 Runners as well as with the Golden Comanche. 

Photo by Pableaux Johnson

 He most recently has used the Ella Project to formalize his collaboration with visual artist Lillian Aguinaga. She created a painting that became the image on the official 2025 Golden Comanche poster entitled “In the Beginning.” The legal agreement included licensing rights and other issues to protect both parties. 

 Masking as a Golden Comanche has influenced Pardo’s approach to his other creative pursuits. “It has helped me to understand that patience is needed to create something,” he said.

 “I incorporate other cultures and connections from the diaspora, not unlike the origins of the Black Masking Indians,” he said. “I find myself using approaches and materials in new ways. For example, in my music recording, I incorporate rhythmic patterns from other countries.” 

 Big Chief Juan Pardo’s social media presence includes Facebook (@ChiefJuanPardo) and Instagram (@bigchiefjuanpardo). He recently created a sensation on Instagram by working on his 2025 suit outside during the unprecedented New Orleans snowstorm on January 21.