Demond Melancon is the Big Chief of the Young Seminole Hunters tribe, and has been a Mardi Gras Indian since his early teens. He is working to introduce contemporary arts to the intricate beadwork of Black Masking culture, showing in galleries and museums internationally. Demond brought me on as a collaborator for projects, and I feel blessed to have become friends, learned some about this deep tradition, and experienced his intense spirit and creativity. He requested that I paint his portrait in 2020, and I completed it the day New Orleans lost our first citizen to Covid-19, just before shutdowns began. “No Hoombow” is a Mardi Gras Indian saying that means “won’t bow down”, and also conveys New Orleans’ strength in the face of challenges.