Potter, with his ink black hair and traditional facial tattoos, cuts a striking figure but he speaks softly, and with surprising tenderness. He is of the Winnemem Wintu tribe, also known as ‘Middle River’ people; a descendant of massacre; a great teller of coyote Creation stories; and staunch advocate for his people.
“Inherent sovereignty is something that we’ve always had; that’s one thing that isn’t granted or given to us, not even through federal recognition,” he says. “But recognition does allow us to govern ourselves; to live in these modern times but function as a sovereign Indigenous nation.”
The Redding Rancheria Tribal Nation is federally recognized, but there are still many bands and tribes—like the Winnemem Wintu—across California who are fighting for recognition. “Future generations shouldn’t have to work so hard to exist,” he says. “But that won’t necessarily be the situation, so we’re prepared to fight, not physically, but with education and lawyers; to use our spirituality and our smartness to adapt, exist, persevere, be resilient and continue as a nation.”
