Allison ‘Tootie’ Montana
Encyclopedia
Chief Allison ‘Tootie’ Montana (December 16, 1922 – June 27, 2005) was a New Orleans cultural icon who acted as the Mardi Gras Indian "chief of chiefs" for decades. He began making his own Mardi Gras Indian costumes at the age of ten.
Montana had just finished speaking of his fifty-two year involvement with the Indians at a New Orleans City Council special session held to review complaints of police misconduct during Mardi Gras
when he was struck by a fatal heart attack
. He died surrounded by supporters and other Indian chiefs.
Montana had just finished speaking of his fifty-two year involvement with the Indians at a New Orleans City Council special session held to review complaints of police misconduct during Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras
The terms "Mardi Gras" , "Mardi Gras season", and "Carnival season", in English, refer to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after Epiphany and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday...
when he was struck by a fatal heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
. He died surrounded by supporters and other Indian chiefs.