Marie Mason Potts facts for kids

Marie Mason Potts (1895–1978) was an important leader for the Maidu people. Her Maidu name was Chankutpan, which means "One With Sharp Eyes." She was born Marie Mason.

Marie Potts was a cultural leader, activist, teacher, writer, journalist, and editor. She was a very important Native American activist in California. She traveled and gave talks about tribal sovereignty. This means tribes having the right to govern themselves. She also spoke about Native American heritage and keeping their culture alive. Marie Potts wrote two books: "The Northern Maidu" (1971) and "Honey Run Bridge."

Early Life and Education

Marie Mason was born in 1895 in a place called Big Meadows. Today, this place is known as Chester in Plumas County, California. Her father was a prospector (someone who looks for minerals) and left her mother before Marie was born. She was a member of the Maidu Tribe.

She went to the Greenville Indian School in Greenville, California, from 1900 to 1912. Then, she attended the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, from 1912 to 1915. While at Carlisle, she wrote for the student newspaper, The Carlisle Arrow. Marie Potts was the first person from a California Indian tribe to graduate from the Carlisle School.

In 1915, she married Hensley Potts, who was also Maidu. He had been her classmate at Greenville. They had seven children together. In 1942, her family moved to Sacramento, California.

Career and Activism

In 1946 and 1947, Marie Potts helped start the Federated Indians of California (FIC). This group worked to help Native American tribes get their land back from the United States government. They presented their cases to a special court called the Indian Claims Commission.

For 30 years, Marie Potts was the editor of the FIC's newspaper, "The Smoke Signal." This newspaper was published from 1947 until 1977. It is believed to be one of the very first Native American newspapers.

Potts also helped create the Sacramento Indian Center. She was a founding member of the American Indian Press Association Intertribal Council Center. She was part of a group that later became the California Education Association. Marie Potts taught American and Californian Native American history at California State University, Sacramento (CSU).

She also took part in the Occupation of Alcatraz protests. These protests happened from 1969 to 1971. Native Americans occupied Alcatraz Island to bring attention to their rights.

Death and Legacy

Marie Mason Potts passed away on June 24, 1978. She died in Susanville, Lassen County, California, while she was traveling.

In 1975, the state of California honored her for her work. In 1977, the California State Park and Recreation Department also recognized her. A building at the California State Department of Health, Education, and Welfare was named after her. It also has a special plaque in her honor.

See also

• List of Indigenous writers of the Americas