(Mary Frances Thompson)
1895-1995
Storyteller

Possibly the most famous Chickasaw woman of recent history, Te Ata kept history alive in the oral tradition. Te Ata learned her stories listening to family members including her mother and father in the family home in Emet, near Tishomingo. Telling stories in performances to schools and other institutions helped pay her way at the Oklahoma College for Women (presently University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma). Her stories gained popularity as she pursued a career on the stage, catching the attention and praise of dignitaries and heads of state.

As recognition of her work spread, Te Ata received acclaim from a wide variety of publications and awards from numerous institutions, including induction into the Chickasaw Hall of Fame. In the latter years of her life, Te Ata returned to Oklahoma and died shortly before her 100th birthday.