Pam outdusis Cunningham
Pam outdusis Cunningham
I am a Penobscot Indian Master Basket Weaver.
My mother, ssipsis, is full blooded Penobscot Indian (a federally recognized Tribe) and my father was half Irish and half English. I am 50% Penobscot, 25% Irish and 25% English. I am Penobscot, of the Turtle clan. I was born at Eastern Maine Medical Center (in Bangor, Maine) then brought home and raised on Oak Hill, Indian Island, Maine, USA. The same hill my mom was born on. 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.
An American Heirloom Crafts Initiating Artist.
