Ian Thompson

ithompson@choctawnation.com

Ian Thompson began learning how to chip stone tools from his uncle at the age of seven. As a youth, Ian also learned hide-work, bow-making, pottery, shell-work, and ground stone tools from a number of traditional artisans and on his own. Balancing this cultural education with western education, Ian studied at the University of Missouri (BA in anthropology, 2002) and the University of New Mexico (MA and PhD in anthropology, 2005 and 2008, respectively). Dr. Thompson's dissertation work (Joe Watkins committee chair) brought to light aspects of Choctaw traditional art and traditional knowledge towards the goal of their revitalization by Choctaw people.Ian is a Registered Professional Archaeologist and a Tribal Council-certified Choctaw Community Language Instructor. He has demonstrated his traditional artwork at NMAI three times.

Currently, Ian serves as the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Director of the Historic Preservation Department, Tribal Archaeologist, and NAGPRA Specialist for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Ian and his staff of 14 work to protect Choctaw sites in a nine state area, to restore abandoned Choctaw cemeteries, to repatriate Choctaw sacred objects and human remains, to research Choctaw history, and to educate about Choctaw culture. Ian authors a monthly column in the Tribal newspaper on Choctaw history and culture, and was a co-author of "Choctaw: A Cultural Awakening." He has lead recent Tribal efforts to revitalize Choctaw traditional pottery, personally teaching more than 100 classes. In limited spare time, Ian and wife Amy Thompson play Choctaw stickball and manage a small bison farm.