Chief Dan George (born Geswanouth Slahoot; July 24, 1899 – September 23, 1981) was a chief of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, a

Coast Salish The Coast Salish peoples are a group of ethnically and linguistically related Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast, living in the Canadian province of British Columbia and the U.S. states of Washington and Oregon. They speak on ...

band whose

Indian reserve In Canada, an Indian reserve () or First Nations reserve () is defined by the '' Indian Act'' as a "tract of land, the legal title to which is vested in Her Majesty, that has been set apart by Her Majesty for the use and benefit of a band." ...

is located on

Burrard Inlet Burrard Inlet () is a shallow-sided fjord in the northwestern Lower Mainland, British Columbia, Canada. Formed during the last Ice Age, it separates the City of Vancouver and the rest of the lowland Burrard Peninsula to the south from the coa ...

in the southeast area of the District of North Vancouver,

British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...

, Canada. He also was an actor, musician, poet and author. The Chief's best-known written work is ''My Heart Soars''. As an actor, he is best remembered for portraying Old Lodge Skins opposite

Dustin Hoffman Dustin Lee Hoffman (born August 8, 1937) is an American actor. As one of the key actors in the formation of New Hollywood, Hoffman is known for Dustin Hoffman filmography, his versatile portrayals of antiheroes and emotionally vulnerable charac ...

in '' Little Big Man'' (1970), for which he was nominated for the

Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor The Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor is an award presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It has been awarded since the 9th Academy Awards to an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in ...

, and for his role in '' The Outlaw Josey Wales'' (1976), as Lone Watie, opposite

Clint Eastwood Clinton Eastwood Jr. (born May 31, 1930) is an American actor and film director. After achieving success in the Western (genre), Western TV series ''Rawhide (TV series), Rawhide'', Eastwood rose to international fame with his role as the "Ma ...

Early life

Born as Geswanouth Slahoot in North Vancouver,Christine Armstrong,
Hidden in plain sight: contributions of Aboriginal peoples to Canadian Identity and Culture
', 2005: Univ. of Toronto Press, p. 14. . Accessed October 13, 2015. his English name was originally Dan Slaholt. The surname was changed to George when he entered a residential school at age 5. He worked at a number of different jobs, including as a

longshoreman A dockworker (also called a longshoreman, stevedore, docker, wharfman, lumper or wharfie) is a waterfront manual laborer who loads and unloads ships. As a result of the intermodal shipping container revolution, the required number of dockworke ...

, construction worker, and school bus driver, and was band chief of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation from 1951 to 1963 (then called the Burrard Indian Band).

Acting career

1960–1970: Early roles and breakthrough

In 1960, when he was already 60 years old, he landed his first acting job in a

CBC Television CBC Television (also known as CBC TV, or simply CBC) is a Television in Canada, Canadian English-language terrestrial television, broadcast television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcasting, p ...

series, '' Cariboo Country'', as the character Ol' Antoine (pron. "Antwine"). He performed the same role in a Walt Disney Studios film'' Smith!'' (1969), adapted from an episode in the series '' The High Chaparral'' (the episode in turn being based on ''Breaking Smith's Quarter Horse'', a novella by Paul St. Pierre). In 1970, at age 71, he received several honours for his role in

Arthur Penn Arthur Hiller Penn (September 27, 1922 – September 28, 2010) was an American filmmaker, theatre director, and producer. He was a three-time Academy Award nominee for Academy Award for Best Director, Best Director, and a Tony Awards, Tony Awa ...

's film '' Little Big Man'', including a nomination for the

1971–1981: Subsequent success

In 1971 He played Chief Red Cloud in Season 13 Episode 14 (Warbonnet) on the Western series Bonanza. He played the role of Rita Joe's father in George Ryga's stage play, '' The Ecstasy of Rita Joe'', in performances at

Vancouver Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the cit ...

, the

National Arts Centre The National Arts Centre (NAC) () is a Arts centre, performing arts organization in Ottawa, Ontario, along the Rideau Canal. It is based in the eponymous National Arts Centre (building), National Arts Centre building. History The NAC was one ...

Ottawa Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. It is located in the southern Ontario, southern portion of the province of Ontario, at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the cor ...

, and

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

In 1972, he was among the guests in David Winters's

television special A television special (often TV special, or rarely television spectacular) is a standalone television show which may also temporarily interrupt episodic programming normally scheduled for a given time slot. Some specials provide a full range of en ...

'' The Special London Bridge Special''. That same year he acted in the film

Paul Bogart Paul Bogart (né Bogoff; November 13, 1919 – April 15, 2012) was an Americans, American television director and producer. Bogart directed episodes of the television series 'Way Out (TV series), Way Out'' in 1961, ''Coronet Blue'' in 1967, '' ...

's '' Cancel My Reservation,'' and got the recurring role of Chief Moses Charlie in the

comedy-drama Comedy drama (also known by the portmanteau dramedy) is a hybrid genre of works that combine elements of comedy and Drama (film and television), drama. In film, as well as scripted television series, serious dramatic subjects (such as death, il ...

television Television (TV) is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. Additionally, the term can refer to a physical television set rather than the medium of transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertising, ...

series ''

The Beachcombers ''The Beachcombers'' is a Canadian comedy drama television series that ran on CBC Television from October 1, 1972, to December 12, 1990. With over 350 episodes, it is one of the longest-running dramatic series ever made for Canadian English-langu ...

'', a role he would revisit until his death in 1981. In 1973, he played the role of "Ancient Warrior" in an episode of the TV show ''

Kung Fu Chinese martial arts, commonly referred to with umbrella terms Kung fu (term), kung fu (; ), kuoshu () or wushu (sport), wushu (), are Styles of Chinese martial arts, multiple fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in Greater Ch ...

.'' That same year George recorded "My Blue Heaven" with the band Fireweed, with "Indian Prayer" on the reverse. His album, ''Chief Dan George & Fireweed – In Circle'', was released in 1974 comprising these songs and seven others. The following year he had roles in '' Alien Thunder'' (1974), '' The Bears and I'' (1974), and '' Harry and Tonto'' (1974). In 1975, he portrayed the character Chief Stillwater in the "Showdown at Times Square" episode in Season 6 of '' McCloud''. Josey Wales publicity

In 1976 he acted in

's '' The Outlaw Josey Wales,'' and

George McCowan George McCowan (June 27, 1927 – November 1, 1995) was a Canadian film and television director in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. McCowan began his career working for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. He worked as an actor and director fo ...

's '' Shadow of the Hawk.'' On television the following year he had a role in the 1978 miniseries ''

Centennial A centennial, or centenary in British English, is a 100th anniversary or otherwise relates to a century. Notable events Notable centennial events at a national or world-level include: * Centennial Exhibition, 1876, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ...

'', based on the book by

James A. Michener James Albert Michener ( or ; February 3, 1907 – October 16, 1997) was an American writer. He wrote more than 40 books, most of which were long, fictional family sagas covering the lives of many generations, set in particular geographic locales ...

. In 1979, he acted in '' Americathon,'' and '' Spirit of the Wind''. In 1980 he had his final film role in '' Nothing Personal.''

1984: Posthumous written work

George was well known for his poetic writing style and in 1974, George wrote ''My Heart Soars'' followed by ''My Spirit Soars'' in 1983, both published by Hancock House Publishers. The two books were later combined to form ''The Best of Chief Dan George'' which went on to become a best seller and continues to sell well today. One of his better known pieces of poetry ''A Lament for Confederation'' has become one of his most widely known works.

Death

The Chief died at Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver in 1981 at the age of 82. He was interred at Burrard Cemetery.

Personal life

Dan George's granddaughter Lee Maracle was a poet, author, activist, and professor.Lee Maracle
The Canadian Encyclopedia, Retrieved April 14, 2016 His granddaughter Charlene Aleck is an actress who performed for 18 years on ''

'' on CBC. His granddaughter Joan Phillip is the

BC NDP The New Democratic Party of British Columbia (BC NDP) is a social democratic political party in British Columbia, Canada. The party sits on the centre-left of the political spectrum and is one of the two major parties in British Columbia; since ...

MLA for Vancouver-Mount Pleasant. His great-granddaughter Columpa Bobb is an actress and poet. Chief Dan George's grand-nephew, Chief Jesse "Nighthawk" George, currently resides in Chesapeake, Virginia, and is the Inter-Tribal Peace Chief for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Activism

During his acting career, he worked to promote better understanding by non-aboriginals of the

First Nations First nations are indigenous settlers or bands. First Nations, first nations, or first peoples may also refer to: Indigenous groups *List of Indigenous peoples *First Nations in Canada, Indigenous peoples of Canada who are neither Inuit nor Mé ...

people. His soliloquy, ''Lament for Confederation'', an indictment of the appropriation of native territory by European

colonialism Colonialism is the control of another territory, natural resources and people by a foreign group. Colonizers control the political and tribal power of the colonised territory. While frequently an Imperialism, imperialist project, colonialism c ...

, was performed at the City of Vancouver's celebration of the Canadian Centennial in 1967. This speech is credited with escalating native political activism in Canada and touching off widespread pro-native sentiment among non-natives.

Accolades

Chief Dan George received the following accolades for '' Little Big Man''.

Honours and legacy

In 1971, George was made an Officer of the

Order of Canada The Order of Canada () is a Canadian state order, national order and the second-highest Award, honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with the Canadian Centennial, ce ...

. He was included on the Golden Rule Poster under "Native Spirituality" with the quote: "We are as much alive as we keep the earth alive". Canadian actor

Donald Sutherland Donald McNichol Sutherland (17 July 1935 – 20 June 2024) was a Canadian actor. With a career spanning six decades, he received List of awards and nominations received by Donald Sutherland, numerous accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award ...

narrated the following quote from his poem "My Heart Soars" in the opening ceremonies of the

2010 Winter Olympics The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XXI Olympic Winter Games () and also known as Vancouver 2010 (), were an international winter multi-sport event held from February 12 to 28, 2010 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with ...

. :''The beauty of the trees,'' :''the softness of the air,'' :''the fragrance of the grass,'' :''speaks to me.'' :''And my heart soars.''

Legacy

* Chief Dan George Middle School in

Abbotsford, British Columbia Abbotsford is a city in British Columbia next to the Canada–United States border, Greater Vancouver, and the Fraser River. With a census population of 153,569 people (2021), it is the most populous municipality in the province outside metropol ...

* Chief Dan George Public School in

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

* Chief Dan George Theatre, Phoenix Theatre,

University of Victoria The University of Victoria (UVic) is a public research university located in the municipalities of Oak Bay, British Columbia, Oak Bay and Saanich, British Columbia, Canada. Established in 1903 as Victoria College, British Columbia, Victoria Col ...

, British Columbia In 2008

Canada Post Canada Post Corporation (, trading as Canada Post (), is a Canadian Crown corporation that functions as the primary postal operator in Canada. Originally known as Royal Mail Canada (the operating name of the Post Office Department of the Can ...

issued a postage stamp in its "Canadians in Hollywood" series featuring Chief Dan George.

Filmography

Written works

* George, Dan, and Helmut Hirnschall. ''My Heart Soars''. Toronto: Clarke, Irwin, 1974. * George, Dan, and Helmut Hirnschall. ''My Spirit Soars''. Surrey, B.C., Canada: Hancock House, 1982. * Mortimer, Hilda, and Dan George. ''You Call Me Chief: Impressions of the Life of Chief Dan George''. Toronto: Doubleday Canada, 1981. * George, Dan, and Helmut Hirnschall.
The Best of Chief Dan George
'. Surrey, B.C.
Hancock House
2003.

References

External links

*
Chief Dan George
on CBC TV's ''Telescope'', 1971 * {{DEFAULTSORT:George, Chief Dan 1899 births 1981 deaths 20th-century Canadian male actors 20th-century Canadian poets 20th-century First Nations writers Articles containing video clips Canadian male film actors Canadian male poets Canadian male television actors First Nations male actors First Nations poets Indigenous leaders in British Columbia Industrial Workers of the World members Male Western (genre) film actors Male actors from Vancouver Officers of the Order of Canada People from North Vancouver Tsleil-Waututh First Nation