Died 27 October 2015 | ||
Born Eugenia Theresa Thomas
June 10, 1941 (age 75)
Indian Island, Maine, US ( 1941-06-10 ) Occupation Poet, social worker, artist, storyteller Books Prayers, Poems and Pathways | ||
Ssipsis
ssipis (June 10, 1941- October 27, 2015) was an American and Penobscot poet, social worker, visual artist, writer and storyteller. Much of her work was focused on and inspired by the advancement of Indigenous people.
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Life
ssipsis' mother, Dorothy Phillips, was a member of the Mohawk people and her father, William Thomas, was a Penobscot. Her birth name is Penobscot for "little bird" and was raised by Eugenia Mary Thomas on Indian Island where she spent most of her life. ssipsis earned a sociology degree at Colby College where she met her husband Kenneth C. Thompson. ssipsis and Kenneth had four children together.
ssipsis identified as a member of the Penobscot tribe and always fought for the rights of her people; most notably, she led a protest in 1970 in Old Town, Maine regarding a Penobscot treaty agreement. ssipsis is also known for her birch-bark etchings and for her work on the preservation of Penobscot art and culture. Her art often reflected her dedication to tribal rights, including hemmed pieces to make political statements.