Queens of the Nation formed a circle with candles and balloons to honor Queen Kim. Photos by Matthew Hinton

PHOTOS: Community gathers to pay respects to Big Queen Kim “Cutie” Boutte

Members of the Black Masking Indians community, also known as Carnival or Mardi Gras Indians, remember Big Queen Kim “Cutie” Boutte of the Spirit of the Fi Yi Yi and Mandingo Warriors tribe at Hunter’s Field in the 7th Ward and the Treme neighborhood of New Orleans August 12, 2020.

by Matthew Hinton | August 13, 2020

Members of the Black Masking Indians community, also known as Carnival or Mardi Gras Indians, remember Big Queen Kim “Cutie” Boutte of the Spirit of the Fi Yi Yi and Mandingo Warriors tribe at Hunter’s Field in the 7th Ward and the Treme neighborhood of New Orleans August 12, 2020.

Reports said Queen Boutte, 55, was attending a funeral repast and was shot and killed by a gunman shooting randomly from a car in the parking lot in New Orleans East Tuesday. Another man was injured in the shooting and is in stable condition, officials said. Boutte had masked since age 5 under her uncle, Big Chief Victor Harris, center, and she eventually became the Big Queen. Boutte was a member of the Tambourine and Fan group started by Jerome Smith at Hunter’s Field and the Treme Center. Smith started the first Indians Super Sunday parades in 1969, which often ended at Hunter’s Field. The Indians did the best to keep the crowd moving and keep their social distance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Balloons spelling out “KIM” were released and the Queens of the Nation formed a circle with candles to honor Queen Kim.

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Matthew Hinton

Matthew Hinton

Matthew Hinton is a New Orleans area freelance photographer whose work has been recognized by the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) Best of Photojournalism Awards in 2014 and 2016, and by numerous awards from the Press Club of New Orleans, including the Hal Ledet President's Print Photography Award, the highest honor the Press Club can bestow upon a photographer.
Matthew Hinton has previously been a staff photographer at both of the daily newspapers in New Orleans. His work has appeared nationally and internationally through freelance work with the Associated Press and AFP, Agence France-Presse.

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