The Second and Dryades Mardi Gras Indian Federation is a non profit organization based in the Central City neighborhood of “Uptown,” New Orleans, LA. Established in the 2000 to address the needs and concerns of this culturally rich community, “Second and Dryades” exists in area where many New Orleans cultural icons were born and raised, including: Professor Longhair, Mahalia Jackson, Big Chief Bo Dollis, the Neville and Marsalis families, James Booker, and many Second Line and Benevolent Organizations. Central City was also home to the famed Dew Drop Inn club of 50’s and 60’s.
The Second and Dryades Mardi Gras Indian Federation currently sponsors a weekly (every Sunday) Unified Indian Practice @ Handa Wanda’s on Second & Dryades. “Handa Wanda’s” named after the Big Chief Bo Dollis penned, Quint Davis (New Orleans Jazz Fest producer) produced, 1970 song of the same name, is also the headquarters of The Wild Magnolias Mardi Gras Indians.. Addressing the need for the continuation of the Mardi Gras Indian heritage every Unified Practice is open to the public; while all tribes (Uptown, Downtown, Gert Town, or Westbank) are encouraged to participate and even lead their own “Practice” at Handa Wanda’s. Additionally, each participating member is paid a weekly honorarium and children, the true bloodline of any culture, are given a special invitation to witness the culture with special VIP seating and free refreshments served. Notable “Indian Practice” audience members have included: Dr. John, Marcia Ball, Wendell Pierce (HBO’s The Wire), Debbie Allen and Academy Award Winner, Forest Whitaker and (even) White House Secret Service agents. “Second and Dryades,” Executive Director, Glenn Gaines (commenting on keeping “Indian Practice” going without major sponsorship), states, “I wish that we could do more…to find money to keep the lights on and pay the Indians each week is a small price to pay to be able to see and hear this living culture ‘up close and personal’ , every Sunday.” Gaines further states, “ I didn’t grow up being at Second Lines (Day) and Indian Practice (Night) every Sunday; but you can bet I plan to make it every Sunday I can, until the day I die!” Besides the Unified Indian practice, the federation has continued it’s Central Central re-investment agenda, by purchasing several properties that were in foreclosure on the Second and Dryades corridor. Handa Wanda’s now sits at one of the locations.
The Handa Wanda’s location’s total renovation cost is estimated to go into hundred’s of thousands of dollars. Infrastructure repairs have already exceeded $100,000.00, with roughly another $50,000.00 to $60,000.00 needed for completion.. Gaines laughs, as he mentions someone asking him about the $100,000.00 spent to date. He states, “When applying for funds from this particular organization, this lady (with the organization) asked me about the $100,000.00 that we’ve spent so far…she told me that she and her board didn’t realize that we had $100,000.00 to spend on Handa Wanda’s.” I told her, “We didn’t have it, but like the Mardi Gras Indians ,who buy supplies weekly to have a beautiful ’New Suit’ on Mardi Gras Day (costing upwards of $15,000.00), we’ve worked on Handa Wanda’s since 2001. We’ve worked for and spent every penny, brick by brick. But, when we’re finished, Handa Wanda’s will be the gem of Central City… and the Second and Dryades Mardi Gras Indian’s Federation’s ‘New Suit’ clearing the way for the generations.”
In addition to the Unified Indian Practice and the ongoing Handa Wanda’s project, the Second and Dryades Mardi Gras Indian Federation also sponsors an annual Easter Sunday Mardi Gras Indian Competition, a weekly, Summer Teen Disco, for “at risk” Central City teens and during Jazz Fest 2008, “Second and Dryades” will present the 1st Annual Big Chief Bo Dollis Mardi Gras Indian Heritage Festival AKA “Bo Fest” on Thursday, May 1, 2008...featuring the Wild Magnolia with full band, and many major New Orleans and National performers at Handa Wanda’s on Second & Dryades!
Second & Dryades Mardi Gras Indian Federation---April 2008
