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profile by Clare Contini A Woman of Distinction the inspiration f o r her elegant evening capes. A f t e r c o m p l e t i n g a c o u r s e in fashi o n m e r c h a n d i z i n g in the late 1970s. Baker m o v e d t o the U n i t e d States, w h e r e she g o t h e r start in t h e fashion industry, c o o r d i n a t i n g fashion s h o w s . A w a k e n i n g in Baker was a fasc i n a t i o n w i t h design, w h i c h led h e r t o a two-year textile-arts c o u r s e . She t h e n r e t u r n e d h o m e in 1985 t o begin h e r o w n b u s i n e s s , T o u c h of C u l t u r e . "I set a goal that I w o u l d c o n t i n u e t o w o r k w i t h i n N a t i v e c o m m u n i t i e s and b e t t e r myself as a teacher," she says. Baker has never lost sight of that mission. " M y goal was t o build self-esteem w i t h i n o u r y o u t h , as w e l l as s t a r t my o w n business," B a k e r says. F o r 12 years. Baker w o r k e d w i t h t h e y o u t h of the C a p i l a n o Indian Band as a c o u n s e l l o r . She was i n s t r u m e n t a l in d e v e l o p i n g t h e y o u t h p r o g r a m SelfE s t e e m O n e . L e a r n i n g t r a d i t i o n s such as t h e sacred c i r c l e and m e d i c i n e wheel, youth reconnected with their r o o t s , gaining c o n f i d e n c e . B a k e r involved t h e m in the fashion industry, leading t o u r s t o places s u c h as A r i z o n a , w h e r e the y o u t h l e a r n e d about o t h e r Native cultures. W i t h a desire t o f u r t h e r d e v e l o p h e r craft. Baker e n r o l l e d in C a p i l a n o C o l l e g e ' s t e x t i l e p r o g r a m , graduating in 1994. H e r quest f o r learning did n o t e n d t h e r e , however. S u p p o r t e d by Band's e d u c a t i o n d i r e c t o r , Baker applied successfully t o d e g r e e p r o grams at fashion-design s c h o o l s in N e w Y o r k and L o s A n g e l e s . W i t h h e r t w o b o y s , she s e t o u t f o r California's c e l e b r a t e d O t i s C o l l e g e of A r t and D e s i g n . T h e s c h o o l w a s " v e r y t o u g h , " Baker a d m i t s . " E a c h night I w o u l d w o r k o n my projects until 2 a m , o r 3 a m , and s o m e t i m e s even later." H e r hard w o r k and p e r s e v e r a n c e paid off. Baker's talent e a r n e d h e r t w o design a w a r d s : t o p h o n o u r s f o r s p o r t s w e a r in h e r first year, f o l l o w e d LEFT: T r i b u t e t o C o a s t Salish Women Photo by Erin Kennah RIGHT: Contemporary Coast Artwork pclhand Indian Devored 2 dyed powNW Pamela Baker: O art. rganza, l i n e n , c h i f f o n . D o t h e s e f a b r i c s c o n j u r e t h o u g h t s of f a s h i o n f r o m Paris o r N e w Y o r k ? Y o u n e e d n o t l o o k any f u r t h e r t h a n t h e N o r t h Shore f o r beautiful, wearable Pamela Baker has a c c o m p l i s h e d m o r e in h e r 4 0 years than many of us d r e a m of. Baker, w h o g r e w up in t h e Squamish N a t i o n , is grateful t o h e r C o a s t Salish father, w h o taught h e r g o o d business ethics and t h e p o l itics of B a n d life. H e r m o t h e r , w h o is K w a g i u t l and p a r t T l i n g i t , has also been a m a j o r influence in Baker's life, instilling in h e r a s t r o n g sense o f identity and e n c o u r a g i n g h e r t o r e a l ize h e r d r e a m s . Baker's eyes light up as she recalls r e c e i v i n g h e r first b u t t o n blanket f r o m a n o t h e r r o l e m o d e l , h e r great aunt. Baker is adept at integrating b o t h sides of h e r ancestry in her designs, f r o m t h e e m b r o i d e r e d C o a s t Salish " e y e " o n her c o n t e m p o r a r y potlatch pillows t o the Kwagiutl chilkat blanket. der blue silk velvet Photo by Paquette Michelle