Te Ata: Chickasaw Storyteller - American Treasure: Collector's Edition

by Richard Green

The definitive biography of one of history’s most famous Chickasaws is re- introduced by Chickasaw Press in hardcover as a collector’s edition. Te Ata, born Mary Frances Thompson, earned international acclaim for employing her talents as a performer in the interpretations of traditional stories, many of them given to her by her father, and many collected from other Native tribes and traditions. She used her performances, and the recognition they brought her, to build lasting bridges of cultural understanding and acceptance. Her name became known throughout the United States, and her performances and interests compelled her to become a veteran world traveler. Author Richard Green also touches on the private side of Te Ata’s life, including the intrigue of her early relationship with Clyde Fisher, the man who would become her beloved husband and benefactor. This new collector’s edition includes additional photos from her family’s private collection, many never before published.

Genres: Biography, History, Native American, Nonfiction

491 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book to learn more about the Chickasaw people and I was pleasantly surprised by the way this book flowed and the amazing story of Te Ata. To write the details of someone’s life while educating and bringing awareness to a long ago lived world, is not easy and this book did it beautifully. I loved learning all the details of Te Ata and I loved that she would retreat to “Loon island.” This isn’t a quick read but it’s a beautiful one. I recommend it to all.

[Anjalica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful woman with a mission to tell the story. Tears of sadness, tears of joy but most of all tears of gratefulness for telling the story of our people.

Thank you

[Kathleen Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was captivated by this amazing woman and her remarkable life. Te Ata cultivated her career as a performing folklorist to share her culture with audiences here and abroad. The seriousness and integrity with which she undertook her art is a credit to the Chickasaw Nation. The times, her experiences and the people she met - it was all so fascinating.

[Resa Boydston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I read this book as an assignment for my upper level sociology class, it has been a thrill reading of Te Ata's life and her many experiences. I had another reason for reading this book; My g-g-g-grandmother was Chickasaw, and reading Te Ata's experiences helped fit a few pieces in my life's puzzle. The flow of the writer's style was brilliant and easy-to-read.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This remarkable book about an amazing woman will stay on my mind for quite some time. Te Ata gracefully accepted her heritage and moved to share it with school children and politicians. She travelled abroad and across the nation with aplomb. Her life was unbelievable for anyone, much less for an Indian woman from Oklahoma.

[Rachel Renbarger · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing is not great, and it’s far far longer than it should’ve been BUT it’s an important story. Even as an Oklahoman, I hadn’t heard much about tribal history or any of the famous folklorists. I learned a great deal about how different life was...

[Ranette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book about a treasure among the people, a young woman who fought against the banning of Indian culture through her dazzling singing and dancing.

[Drew]

Te Ata did what my friends and I do at VSA. We're artists. I do both the visual arts and the performing arts, but mainly I'm a performer. It was great to read about a woman I have that in common with.