On February 20th, we had the good fortune of having Dr. Ian Thompson visit our Green School classes at Durant Middle School to present his work in sustainability and Choctaw heritage. Dr. Thompson is the tribal historic preservation officer of the Choctaw Nation and manages a sustainable farm with his wife, Amy. As a Choctaw native, he began exploring Choctaw heritage as a young boy when his uncle introduced him to chipping arrowheads. He continued to explore and build his skills in practicing the ways of Choctaw living which he now incorporates in all aspects of his life.
On their farm, Dr. Thompson and Amy, have cultivated the return of native prairies and wildlife through regenerative techniques that include careful management of their bison herd, prescribed burning, and key land management ethics of respect, purity, diversity, and the whole. Their work, from how they use every part of an animal when harvested to how they carefully care for their land, is based on Choctaw indigenous traditions. They also have a green home designed to use minimal resources and rely solely on solar power, and they use a plug-in electric car for their transportation. Additionally, they actively educate and promote a return to the Choctaw traditional diet to improve the health of tribal members, and have an upcoming book on the topic awaiting publication. Altogether, Dr. Thompson and Amy are making an immense impact on their community and native ecosystems in Oklahoma. Their farm, Nan Awaya which means ‘place of growth’, was recently designated as an Oklahoma Natural Heritage Area.
Dr. Thompson also shared that the last three summers have been above average for heat and drought due to climate change and that it’s an example of what our future will be like. By cultivating native grasses and plants, Nan Awaya has been able to better withstand some of these environmental stresses and provide a cushion of forage for the Bison during the extended droughts. But, Dr. Thompson cautioned that the recent heat waves and drought are a glimpse of what will be the norm in the future. Therefore, we need to do all that we can to slow the warming of the atmosphere, which is primarily caused by the burning of fossil fuels and convential land management, while adapting to the change.
Our Green School students greatly appreciated Dr. Thompson's presentation which expanded their perspective and offered insight into ways they can live more sustainably. To learn more about Dr. Thompson and Amy’s journey, visit their website at https://www.nanawaya.com.
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