Richard Montague, Kwat’saan Potter & Culture Bearer, 2024 | Yuma, AZ

Richard is a master potter from the Kwat’saan Tribe, also known as the Yuma People. He will work with his niece, Cornelia Ann Montague.

Richard’s artistic practice is deeply rooted in the traditions of his people. “I have been told and I sincerely believe that I am Kwat’saan, no more and no less,” he says. “As knowledge keepers, we are given the privilege and responsibility to ensure that those that come behind us know who they are and where they come from as Kwat’saan people. The Kwat’saan world depends on the transfer of intergenerational knowledge.”

The Kwat’saan Tribe, located on a 48,000-acre reservation in southwestern Arizona, is known for its long tradition of pottery-making, with distinctive red-on-buff and buff-polychrome pottery that has influenced other tribes in the Southwest. Growing up in a family of potters, Richard was introduced to the artform an early age. His grandfather, the late Henry Montague Sr., and his grandmother, the late Lena Benedict Montague, were both skilled potters. Richard’s passion for clay and textiles grew as a child, learning the ancient techniques of paddle-and-anvil and coil-building from his elders.

Richard’s training was hands-on and immersive. He would accompany his grandmother to clay beds, learning to identify usable clay by observing the landscape, smelling the earth, and even tasting the dirt to ensure its suitability for pottery. The process of gathering and preparing clay is rigorous and time-consuming, requiring both wet and dry techniques depending on the intended use of the pottery. Richard credits his many years of trial and error for his mastery, often learning from mistakes and applying the lessons of each “failed” piece. “Don’t marry the pot until it is out of the fire,” his grandmother Lena would remind him, emphasizing patience and resilience in the artform.

As a PhD candidate and educator, Richard is committed to sharing his knowledge of Kwat’saan pottery with others. Over the past 20 years, he has taught pottery-making through classes, seminars, and hands-on workshops, both within his community and in other tribal communities across Arizona and California. He is also a consultant for the Kwat’saan Language Preservation Department, interweaving traditional songs and stories about clay, mountains, and pottery into his teachings.

Richard is dedicated to preserving and expanding the Kwat’saan tradition. He works closely with elders to explore the mineral colors mentioned in Kwat’saan myths, gathering new clays and paints from the land and incorporating them into his pottery. As an artist, he is constantly evolving, pushing the boundaries of the Kwat’saan form while staying true to the roots of the craft. His work not only serves as a cultural expression but also as a means of passing down ancient knowledge to younger generations.

“Learning has taught me the grace of being a guardian of knowledge,” Richard says. “As a Kwat’saan, we are obligated to share our knowledge freely, just as we do our songs, dances, and language.” His goal is to inspire his apprentices to appreciate the slow, purposeful acquisition of cultural knowledge and to continue the tradition long after he is gone. By teaching and mentoring, Richard ensures that the Kwat’saan legacy of pottery-making, land stewardship, and cultural preservation will endure for future generations.