Black Masking Indians

 The church, St. Augustine, is the oldest Black Catholic parish in the United States, located in Treme, Louisianna. 

Tremé is the oldest African-American neighborhood in the United States, and the site of many major events that have shaped the course of Black America in the past two centuries. Filled with incredible history in terms of culture, music, and more, Tremé is arguably the most significant neighborhood in the whole city. The country’s oldest African-American Catholic church is located here as well.

Treme's history tells the story of the integration of the Indigenous people accepting the escaping slaves into some of their tribes.  Since New Orleans has Mardi Gras and it's fun times reminded the Treme's mixed inhabitants of their celebrations, and since the early times wouldn't allow integration, Treme had its own Mardi Gras.

Wearing masks was part of some of the African cultures, anyway, and painting faces and wearing feathers were also part of the American Indigenous people, Mardi Gras celebrations were the perfect time to join in.  Treme was the location of the first Black Masking Indian Mardi Gras.  The Black Masking Indians are also called the Mardi Gras Indians.