Austin Thompson

Austin Thompson lived a life that could only be measured by heart and spirit, not by papers or records. Born in a time before official birth records were kept, his Choctaw name was carried in the voices of his family and community, later rendered using the English alphabet as Austin Thompson on his death certificate in 1953. He never spoke English, yet his presence spoke volumes.

A proud, full-blooded Mississippi Choctaw, Austin was part of the closing chapter of the Trail of Tears, leaving his homeland in 1903 and arriving in Oklahoma. The land he was granted near Madill—an unassuming 160 acres—was meant to be a place of security, though it was eventually taken from him. Austin spent much of his life as a preacher, primarily at Goodland Academy orphanage near Hugo, Oklahoma. He was a husband and a father to four children.

Though no photographs of Austin remain, his Bible survives—a small, enduring testament to a man with a steadfast heart of someone who understood struggle firsthand. He rests in Durant, Oklahoma, yet his spirit lives on. Generations later, Austin Thompson Studios is formed in his name, by his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Oklahoma Historical Society Dawes Rolls, Mississippi Choctaw, 1314

Biskinik

/BISS-kih-nik/

Among the birds most revered by the Choctaw is the biskinik, commonly associated with the yellow-bellied sapsucker. Alongside the eagle, which represents power and a bridge to the spiritual realm, the biskinik remains deeply respected, its name enduring in Choctaw tradition and storytelling as a symbol of watchfulness and communication.

It is remembered as a bringer of messages and a protector. Its call is traditionally understood as a warning—alerting the community to danger, imbalance, or the need for awareness. Rather than being feared, the bird is respected for its role in watching over the people and helping guide them away from harm.

The biskinik also speaks to the importance of attentiveness and respect for the natural world. It reminds us that not all guidance comes in certainty; some knowledge arrives through observation, listening, and trust in the relationships between all living things.

The biskinik also inspires creativity and storytelling within the Choctaw community. Its presence and the tales surrounding it influence songs and art helping to keep culture vibrant and ensuring that each generation carries forward the lessons and imagination of those who came before.