About Pam
My mom and dad.
ssipsis and Ken Thompson.
They were building our
home on Indian Island.
~1971
My Great grand mother, Camella -
ssipsis. Selling baskets in New
Hampshire.

Learn a little bit about Pam outdusis "Little Pathway" Cunningham

I am a Penobscot Indian Master Basket Weaver.

I am Penobscot, of the Turtle clan. I was raised on Oak Hill, Indian Island,
Maine, USA. It was then that I was given my Penobscot name outdusis
(little pathway).  Looking for a short cut to my friend's home, I spent all
morning walking back and forth from my house to my friend's making a
little pathway.

I love every aspect, every step of my basket making. I relish the fact that,
in most ways, I am following in the footsteps of my ancestors. Many of
the oldest and simplest traditions continue, from splitting and gauging
fiber from the ash tree, to hand weaving each basket, to picking
sweetgrass and then braiding it, for weaving into my baskets. Traditional
and contemporary baskets, berry baskets, collector baskets, and originals
like the sweetgrass flats.

I spend my time making baskets within walking distance of the river that
surrounds Indian Island, Maine. There is a strong connection between the
Penobscot River and my people, Wabanaki, who use the brown ash and
sweetgrass that grow along the riverbanks in honor of this relationship.

The brown ash used to make my fancy baskets is hand selected and
harvested in the North Maine Woods. By stripping the bark and pounding
the trunk until the growth rings can be pulled off in long splints. I split,
scrape and gauge these splints into weavers, standards and points used
to make my baskets. I hand pick the sweetgrass, blade by blade along the
coast of Maine. Then soak the dried grass and finely braid three strands
together locking in other strands to achieve the continuous braid.

These baskets symbolize my desire to keep native traditions and culture
alive.

I offer you traditionally hand made baskets. These unique baskets are
signed and dated.

In addition to the time that I spend working with the ash and sweetgrass,
I also keep involved in other activities that help promote not only the
economic aspect of basket making but also increase awareness of the
history of the art.

These activities include:

*2006-2008, Penobscot Indian Nation Cultural and Historic Preservation
Committee Member.

*2007-2008, Chair-lady of the Penobscot Indian Nation Cultural and
Historic Preservation Committee.

*Many workshops and demonstrations.

*As a Master Weaver through the Maine Traditional Art's Commission
apprenticeship program, since 1999.

*Tribal Resource Specialist, January-September 2005, for the Penobscot
Indian Nation Cultural and Historic Preservation Department, working on
school curriculum for LD291.

*Membership on the Maine Indian Basket Makers Alliance (MIBA) Board of
Directors, from 1998-2002,

Your support in helping keep the traditions and culture of Maine Native
tribes alive is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your interest in Maine Indian Basketry.

Woliwoni -Thank you-
I've been making baskets since 1994.
It has helped me be able to stay at
home and with the help of my
husband, raise our sons. I am truly,
grateful!
This picture of me was featured on the
top fold of the Bangor Daily News for the
2008 American Folk Festival.