Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, leader of the Golden Eagles Mardi Gras Indian tribe, was honored by the National Endowment for the Arts during a ceremony at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC yesterday. The New Orleans icon recieved a 2016 National Heritage Fellowship, a lifetime achievement award that comes with a one-time grant of $25,000.

Photo by Rueben Williams.

“For his mastery of fiber arts, his role as a global cultural diplomat for New Orleans’ creole community, and his commitment to teaching young people the multifaceted community art form of masking, the National Endowment for the Arts honors Joseph Pierre ‘Big Chief Monk’ Boudreaux,” NEw Chairman Jane Chu said during the ceremony.

The fellowship is a well-deserved honor considering Boudreaux’s six-decade history as a Mardi Gras Indian and his five-decade history as a master of New Orleans funk and R&B. Over the years, the local icon has performed in some of the America’s most prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and Saturday Night Live (where he joined The Band’s Robbie Robertson in 1982). He’s also taken his show around the world, introducing his side of New Orleans culture to audiences in the UK, France, Germany and Japan, among other places.

The festivities will continue this Friday, September 30 when the National Heritage Fellowships Concert takes place at at George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium. Boudreaux and the Golden Eagles will perform at the show, which will be streamed live via arts.gov at 8pm ET/7pm CT.