Chief Dan George

Chief Dan George, OC (July 24, 1899 – September 23, 1981) was a chief of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, a Coast Salish band whose Indian reserve is located on Burrard Inlet in the southeast area of the District of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He was also an actor, musician, poet and author; his best-known written work was "My Heart Soars".[1] As an actor, he is best remembered for portraying Old Lodge Skins opposite Dustin Hoffman in Little Big Man (1970), for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor; also for his role in The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976), as Lone Watie, opposite Clint Eastwood.

For the Welsh rugby player, see Dan George (rugby player).
Chief Dan George
Born
Geswanouth Slahoot

(1899-07-24)July 24, 1899
Tsleil-Waututh, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
DiedSeptember 23, 1981(1981-09-23) (aged 82)
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
OccupationAuthor, poet, actor
Years active1951–1981
RelativesLee Maracle
Columpa Bobb

Early years

Born as Geswanouth Slahoot in North Vancouver,[2] his English name was originally Dan Slaholt. The surname was changed to George when he entered a residential school at age 5.[2] He worked at a number of different jobs, including as a longshoreman, construction worker, and school bus driver,[3] and was band chief of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation from 1951 to 1963 (then called the Burrard Indian Band).[4]

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 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 Chapparal (the episode in turn being based on Breaking Smith's Quarter Horse, a novella by Paul St. Pierre). At age 71, he received several honors for his role in the film Little Big Man (1970), including a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.[3][5]

1971–1981: Subsequent success
Dan George with Sondra Locke and Clint Eastwood at a barbecue in Santa Fe, New Mexico promoting The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)

He played the role of Rita Joe's father in George Ryga's stage play, The Ecstasy of Rita Joe, in performances at Vancouver, the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, and Washington, D.C..

In 1972, he was a guest in David Winters' musical television special The Special London Bridge Special, starring Tom Jones, and Jennifer O'Neill. Others guests included The Carpenters, Kirk Douglas, Jonathan Winters, Hermione Gingold, Lorne Greene, Charlton Heston, George Kirby, Michael Landon, Terry-Thomas, Engelbert Humperdinck, Elliott Gould, Merle Park, and Rudolf Nureyev.[6][7][8] That same year he acted in the film Cancel My Reservation and got the role of recurrent role Chief Moses Charlie in the comedy-drama television series The Beachcombers 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. That same year George recorded "My Blue Heaven" with the band Fireweed,[9] with "Indian Prayer" on the reverse.

The following year he had roles in Alien Thunder (1974), The Bears and I (1974), and Harry and Tonto (1974). On the musical side of things he released the album, Chief Dan George & Fireweed – In Circle, was released in 1974 comprising these songs and seven others.

In 1975, he portrayed the character Chief Stillwater in the "Showdown at Times Square" episode in Season 6 of McCloud.

In 1976 he was hired to act in The Outlaw Josey Wales, and Shadow of the Hawk.

On television the following year he had role in the 1978 miniseries Centennial, based on the book by James A. Michener.

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. These 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

He died in Vancouver in 1981 at the age of 82. He was interred at Burrard Cemetery.

Personal life

Dan George's granddaughter Lee Maracle is a poet, author, activist, and professor.[10] His granddaughter Charlene Aleck is an actress who performed for 18 years on The Beachcombers on CBC. 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 people. His soliloquy, Lament for Confederation,[11] an indictment of the appropriation of native territory by white colonialism, was performed at the City of Vancouver's celebration of the Canadian centennial in 1967.[12] This speech is credited with escalating native political activism in Canada and touching off widespread pro-native sentiment among non-natives.[12]

Accolades
Award Category Result
Academy Awards Best Supporting Actor Nominated
Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting Actor
New York Film Critics Circle Awards Best Supporting Actor Won
National Society of Film Critics Awards Best Supporting Actor
Laurel Awards Best Supporting Performance, Male

Honors and legacy
Dan George's B.C. Entertainment Hall of Fame star on Granville Street, Vancouver, BC

In 1971, George was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.[13]

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".[14]

Canadian actor Donald Sutherland narrated the following quote from his poem "My Heart Soars" in the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.[15]

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

Legacy

In 2008 Canada Post issued a postage stamp in its "Canadians in Hollywood" series featuring Chief Dan George.[17]

Filmography
YearTitleRoleNotes
1969Smith!Ol' Antoine
1970Little Big ManOld Lodge Skins
1972Cancel My ReservationOld Bear
1972À bon pied, bon oeil
1974Alien ThunderSounding Sky
1974The Bears and IChief Peter A-Tas-Ka-Nay
1974Harry and TontoSam Two Feathers
1974Man Belongs to the EarthHimself
1974Chief Dan George SpeaksHimself
1975Cold Journey
1976The Outlaw Josey WalesLone Watie
1976Shadow of the HawkOld Man Hawk
1978Pump It Up
1979AmericathonSam Birdwater
1979Spirit of the WindMoses
1980Nothing PersonalOscar

Written works
  • George, Dan, and Helmut Hirnschall. My Heart Soars. Toronto: Clarke, Irwin, 1974. ISBN 0-919654-15-0
  • George, Dan, and Helmut Hirnschall. My Spirit Soars. Surrey, B.C., Canada: Hancock House, 1982. ISBN 0-88839-154-4
  • Mortimer, Hilda, and Dan George. You Call Me Chief: Impressions of the Life of Chief Dan George. Toronto: Doubleday Canada, 1981. ISBN 0-385-04806-8
  • George, Dan, and Helmut Hirnschall. The Best of Chief Dan George. Surrey, B.C.: Hancock House, 2003. ISBN 0-88839-544-2
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See also

References
  1. Interactive Oceans – My Heart Soars
  2. Christine Armstrong, Hidden in plain sight: contributions of Aboriginal peoples to Canadian Identity and Culture, 2005: Univ. of Toronto Press, p. 14. ISBN 0-8020-8800-7. Accessed 2015-10-13.
  3. Yoggy, Gary A (1998). Back in the saddle: essays on Western film and television actors. Jefferson, NC [u.a.] McFarland. p. 138. ISBN 0-7864-0566-X. Retrieved 2010-10-25.
  4. "First Nations - Land Rights and Environmentalism in British Columbia". Institute for the History of Science – University of Goettingen. 2005. Retrieved 2010-10-26.
  5. "CBC News Indepth: Oscars". Cbc.ca. Retrieved 2010-10-26.
  6. Ellis, Lucy; Sutherland, Bryony (2000). Tom Jones: close up. London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0711975491.
  7. "Introducing London Bridge Special". The Anniston Star. 93: 48. 1972-05-07 – via Newspaper.
  8. "Indian chief in Disney tribe". The Herald-News. 103: 39 – via Newspapers.
  9. Michael Bennett (30 September 1972). "Western Canada:Activity abounds on all fronts". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 48–. ISSN 0006-2510.
  10. Lee Maracle, The Canadian Encyclopedia, Retrieved 14 April 2016
  11. "Chief Dan George: Acclaimed actor, gentle soul". The Aboriginal Multi-Media Society. 2008. Archived from the original on 2010-06-09. Retrieved 2010-10-25.
  12. "Chief Dan George – CBC Archives". Archives.cbc.ca. Retrieved 2010-10-26.
  13. "The Governor General of Canada". Gg.ca. Retrieved 2010-10-26.
  14. Teasdale, Wayne (2004). Awakening the Spirit, Inspiring the Soul. SkyLight Paths Pub. p. xviii. ISBN 1-59473-039-3. Retrieved 2010-10-25.
  15. Fralic, Shelley (2010-02-12). "Opening ceremony: Canadians strut their stuff". Vancouversun.com. Retrieved 2010-10-26.
  16. "Chief Dan George Public School". Toronto District School Board. Retrieved 2011-04-18.
  17. "Stamp Quest | Stamps : Canadians in Hollywood: The Sequel". Canadapost.ca. 2008-06-30. Archived from the original on 2011-11-18. Retrieved 2010-10-26.
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