BROOKINGS — The youngest Mardi Gras Indian big chief and his “tribe” navigate social and environmental issues impacting their culture in a film that will be screened on the South Dakota State University campus.

“Big Chief, Black Hawk,” the work of director Jonathan Isaac Jackson and Brookings native and film producer Paul Fishback, explores why the Black Masking tradition is so important to the African American community in New Orleans today.

The film screening will start at 7 p.m. April 14 in the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center’s Founders Recital Hall. A question-and-answer session will follow at about 8 p.m. with Jackson and Fishback. Both events, hosted by SDSU’s College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, are free and open to the public.

“This film screening is a wonderful opportunity to both celebrate the achievements of a Brookings native and introduce our community to a complex and multifaceted cultural phenomenon,” said Lynn Sargeant, dean of the college.

“Big Chief, Black Hawk” made its national broadcast debut on “America ReFramed” on PBS in February and has been screened at several film festivals.

Terrance Williams Jr., aka Big Chief Tee, is a high school senior and the youngest Mardi Gras Indian big chief in New Orleans. Every year, Big Chief Tee and his tribe, the Black Hawk Hunters, create elaborate and beautiful suits, preparing to parade every Mardi Gras morning. This documentary gives a peek into Williams’ life, following him as he continues to carry the torch of the tribe’s annual Black Masking tradition in the midst of a deadly pandemic and civil unrest. 

Through haute couture, movement and words, "Big Chief, Black Hawk" celebrates the beauty and resilience of “the culture” even in the face of crisis and change. The film also explores the history of the Mardi Gras Masking Indian culture, the relationships between African Americans and Native Americans in and around New Orleans, and the changing demographics of New Orleans.

Fishback is currently based out of Redondo Beach, California. His filmmaking journey as an independent producer has taken him to places like Los Angeles, New Orleans, Haiti and Nicaragua. His films have premiered in top film festivals and have been broadcast on national television, with multiple projects currently streaming on worldwide services.

He focuses on creative collaboration and the business of storytelling—always with a goal of striking emotions. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado Boulder and a master’s degree from the American Film Institute Conservatory.

Jackson is a New Orleanian filmmaker and managing partner at The Colored Section. “Big Chief, Black Hawk,” his first feature documentary, has been nominated for best documentary by the American Black Film Festival (2021) and the Black Reel Awards (2022) and was named the top Hollywood South film of 2021 by The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate.

A current MFA candidate at Vermont College of Fine Arts in Film, Jackson continues to work on creating a cinematic language that can continue to bring the African diaspora together by highlighting the celebrations of Black communities as a connection to their ancestors.

Fishback said he hopes viewers of “Big Chief, Black Hawk” gain insight of the Mardi Gras Indians and New Orleans and apply it in a broader context as to why it is important to celebrate and learn about cultures.

“The Mardi Gras Indian community is so interesting, strong and beautiful—from the people and their suits to their dedication to preserving the tradition and culture,” Fishback said. “Writer/director Jonathan Isaac Jackson's vision for the film was something I wanted to be part of. He masterfully captured a complex story weaving through Big Chief Tee's journey, the Mardi Gras Indian community, New Orleans, the pandemic and civil unrest.”

Fishback said he’s proud to be part of the team that made the film, bringing colors, sounds, people and culture to the big screen in an authentic way.

“I am thankful Big Chief Tee and his family shared their story with us, and we want to share that story with as many people as possible. Theirs is a unique story to share in South Dakota. … Please enjoy it, think about it and talk about it. We are very excited to share the film at SDSU and grateful for the opportunity,” Fishback said. “We also wanted to open a dialogue with American Indian students about similar histories in America and abroad.”

Fishback said the team has other films in the works and will show a trailer for their newest work, “Who in Da Mornin,’” at the April 14 screening on campus. He encouraged viewers to check out the “Big Chief, Black Hawk” film guide at https://www.bcbhfilm.com/film-guide and follow @coloredcine on Instagram, and for current and soon-to-be filmmakers to send him a note at pfishback@gmail.com.