Firstly, you cannot understand the “Fancy Indian”/ “Red Indian” or any other ole Mas character without firstly understanding the Carnival which is a celebration of inversion, role reversal and a dismantling of the hegemonic structures that exist in everyday society. (1/10)

Secondly, the closest resemblance of the Trinidad Carnival’s “Fancy Indian”/ “Red Indian” display is the American festival of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, specifically the Mardi Gras Indians. (2/10)

It is important to note that the name “Red Indian” in the mas is the flipping of a cultural script on its head.Where as in other cultures, it is seen as a slur, to Trinidadians it is seen as text reversal, much like the entirety of the carnival, (3/10)

e.g. in other cultures the Dame Lorraine (without context) would be seen as offensive, but to us it has a deeper spiritual and cultural meaning, much like the “Red Indian” The “Red Indian” display in the mas was started by the indigenous (4/10)

Warao people who migrated to Trinidad&Tobago in the 19th Century, from Venezuela.Their displays took on influences from a mix of their culture & indigenous groups from across the Americas since they saw them as being heroes and idols and a resistance to colonial imperialism. 5/10

When former Black Slaves began to engage in the Amerindian masking, they saw it as a challenge to the hegemony and opportunity to remind the colonial master “Dat we taking charge now” (6/10)

“In the context of late 19th- and early 20th-century informally imposed inferiority, for a Trinidadian to imitate one of these grand warriors of the North was to adopt a deliciously ambivalent position: yes, we are "wildmen," just as you think we are, just as Indians have always

been know, to be; but we are just fooling around--and fooling you, who confess by your reticent yet fascinated staring that this heroic persona adds to our stature” (Bellour & Kinser 1998) (8/10)

The tradition has existed for 120 years & was a connection in the spirit of resistance between indigenous ppl & liberated black ppl.There has been an intermingling of the liberated black culture & the indigenous culture which has resulted in its present day representation. (9/10)

There are a lot more details that can be discussed but this is a basic history.I hope it helps. Open to all discussion P.S. Caribbean culture is complex & is hard to understand outside of the Caribbean. So feel free to come experience Trinidad and Tobago's carnival! (10/10)