ssipsis facts for kids

ssipsis
Image of SSipsis
Born	Eugenia Theresa Thomas (1941-06-10)June 10, 1941 Indian Island, Maine, US
Died	October 27, 2015(2015-10-27) (aged 74) Indian Island, Maine, US
Occupation	Poet social worker artist storyteller editor

ssipsis (born Eugenia T. Thompson) was an amazing Penobscot artist, writer, and storyteller. She was born on June 10, 1941, and passed away on October 27, 2015. A lot of her work helped to support and uplift Native American people.

About ssipsis' Life

ssipsis' mother, Dorothy Phillips, was Mohawk. Her father, William Thomas, was Penobscot. Her traditional name, ssipsis, means "little bird" in the Penobscot language. She grew up on Indian Island with Eugenia Mary Thomas. This is where she lived most of her life.

ssipsis went to Colby College and earned a degree in sociology. There, she met her husband, Kenneth C. Thompson. They had four children together.

Fighting for Rights

ssipsis was a proud member of the Penobscot Nation. She always worked hard to protect the rights of her people. In 1970, she led a protest in Old Town, Maine. This protest was about an important agreement for the Penobscot people.

Art and Culture

ssipsis was also known for her beautiful art. She created etchings on birch bark. She worked to keep Penobscot art and culture alive. Her artwork often showed her strong belief in tribal rights. She even used her art to make statements about important issues.

ssipsis was also the editor of the Maine Indian Newsletter. This was a special newspaper that ran in the 1960s and 1970s. It helped share news with Native American people in Maine. She typed every page of the newsletter herself. She often shared important articles from other newspapers and Native American magazines.