Jackie Miller; Jefferson Davis, Louisiana 
Submitted by Kathy Tell 
Source: Louisiana Folklife Database maintained by the Louisiana 
Regional Folklife Program, Region 2, at Northwestern State 
University of Louisiana. These biographies offer information to 
the general public. 
Submitted: July 2004
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************************************************Jackie Miller
Prairie Cajun Mardi Gras Screen Mask and Costume Maker

Jackie Miller of Iota, Louisiana in Acadia Parish grew up among 
old-time Cajuns. She listened to their recipes, remedies, stories, 
music, and their traditions. As a young girl, she watched her 
mother, various aunts, relatives and friends, spend quite some 
time before the start of the Lenten season preparing costumes 
and masks for the men and teenage boys to wear in their courir 
de Mardi Gras. This rural Mardi Gras run is quite different from 
the New Orleans Mardi Gras celebration. In fact, the courir, as 
celebrated in Tee-Mamou, is thought to have its roots in medieval 
peasantry. Historians believe that the peasants would construct 
make shift masks and costumes to wear as they traveled in groups 
from house to house to beg for food. In imitation of the fashion 
of the Queen and other wealthy and powerful citizens, they would 
fashion conical hats much like a dunce hat, which are called 
capuchins. The masks used to hide their identity were made from 
whatever material was available.

In Southwest Louisiana since the 1850s, cardboard box material, 
cloth, needle and thread, horsehair, wool, screen, and plant parts 
have been used. Today Jackie makes her masks either from wire 
screen or from plastic mesh or canvas. This screen is cut into 
a six to eight inch form that fits over the face. The mask is 
then decorated with acrylic yarn, paint, or any other found 
material and with lots of imagination. Ribbons, braid, sequins, 
bone, pom-poms, and old wigs ensure that each wire mask is unique. 
An elastic strap attached to each side of the wire holds the mask 
snugly in place.

For the capuchins, a piece of poster board is shaped and taped in 
a long, conical shape. This is then covered with brightly colored 
cloth. Another quarter yard of cloth is gathered and attached to 
the bottom, back edge of the cone, extending around to each side 
of the face area. This loose hanging cloth drapes over the back 
and shoulders of the person, covering the neck and the sides of 
the face. The capuchin is then decorated with ribbon, braid, 
ruffles, bells, sequins, pom-poms, lace and anything else one 
can imagine. Each mask and each capuchin is unique and original 
and if not a thing of beauty, at least a thing of wonder!

Jackie makes masks and capuchins for herself, her five sons, and 
for their friends. Jackie has an apprentice to whom she is teaching 
this unique craft. Jackie demonstrates her craft at various fairs 
and festivals throughout the state, including Louisiana's 1995 
Folklife Festival in Monroe. Jackie has been officially recognized 
by the state of Louisiana as a master craftswoman by being accepted 
into the Louisiana Crafts Program.