Dan George

Actor

• Born: July 24, 1899
• Birthplace: Burrard Reserve, North Vancouver
• Died: September 23, 1981
• Place of death: Vancouver, British Columbia

Contribution: Dan George was an actor, a speaker, a poet, and a Tsleil-Waututh chief. George is best known for his acting roles in Little Big Man (1970), for which he was nominated for an Academy Award, and The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976). He also published books of poetry including My Heart Soars (1974) and My Spirit Soars (1982).

Early Life

Chief Dan George was born in North Vancouver on the Burrard Reserve on July 24, 1899. He was originally named Geswanouth Slahoot but, as a child at a mission boarding school, his teachers and fellow students encouraged him to anglicize his name. He changed his first name to Dan, a nickname from his youth, and took the surname George from his father’s first name.

George pursued several careers before he discovered acting. He spent twenty-seven years working on a dock before an injury forced him to pursue other options. Subsequently, he spent time as a construction worker, crane operator, logger, musician, and bus driver for a local school.

In 1951, George inherited the position of tribal chief of the Burrard Indian Reserve from his father. Later, his leadership extended to two other Indian bands, the Shuswap and Squamish. George never forgot his roots and spent the rest of his life representing aboriginal people and advocating for their rights and respect.

Career in Acting

In 1959, George turned to a career in acting. His first major role was Old Antoine in the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) series Cariboo Country (1960). His role as a wise, caring, and insightful aboriginal grandfather resonated with audiences for countering stereotyped media portrayals of aboriginal people. George later reprised the role of Old Antoine in a Hollywood adaptation of the series called Smith! (1969).

Having explored television and film acting, George took a stint on the stage in The Ecstasy of Rita Joe (1967), a play about a First Nations woman named Rita Joe who meets tragedy in the big city. George’s role as Rita’s father was expanded by the playwright George Ryga to better emphasize George’s talents. The Ecstasy of Rita Joe played in Vancouver, Ottawa, and Washington, DC, and garnered positive reviews.

Little Big Man

The success of George’s work brought increased attention from Hollywood. George was offered a major role in Little Big Man (1970). Based on a novel by Thomas Berger and directed by Arthur Penn, Little Big Man tells the story of a young man, Jack Crabb, who lives among the Cheyenne people after being kidnapped as a boy. Although he eventually returns to his original home and culture, Crabb always remembers the lessons he learned as a warrior. Crabb, played by Dustin Hoffman, relies on the wisdom of the chief, Old Lodge Skins, played by George.

For this role, George won a National Society of Film Critics Award, Golden Laurel Award, and New York Film Critics Award. He also earned an Academy Award Best Supporting Actor nomination in 1971, as well as a Golden Globe nomination that same year. These awards and nominations helped break new ground for aboriginal actors in Hollywood and elsewhere. George went on to act in several other successful films, including The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976), starring Clint Eastwood.

Writing and Advocacy

The lure of Hollywood never caused George to forget his roots or sway in his support of First Nations people and culture. When choosing movie parts, he only accepted roles in which he could shine a positive light on his people. He felt that he represented the aboriginal peoples of Canada, and that his behavior and successes reflected upon them. George also wrote poetry that celebrated his heritage. Many of his poems were published in My Heart Soars (1974) and My Spirit Soars (1982).

On Canada Day, 1967, George addressed a crowd of thirty-five thousand people at the Vancouver Canadian Centennial celebration with an essay called “Lament for Confederation.” The essay spoke out against the depredations of aboriginal people that followed European colonization. As he spoke, members of his family chanted and played traditional instruments. Although he avoided political activism, George continued to work to preserve the dignity of First Nations people.

Later Life and Legacy

George married and had six children. His wife, Amy, passed away of an illness shortly before George received his Academy Award nomination for Little Big Man. After Amy’s death, George continued to live a humble life with his children in Vancouver. On September 23, 1981, at the age of 82, George died of heart failure.

George made many successful movies and other public presentations that helped increase awareness of aboriginal Canadians’ concerns. For his efforts, the people of Canada awarded him the Officer of the Order of Canada Award, named a Toronto school after him, and featured him on a postage stamp.

Principal Works

Film

Smith, 1969

Little Big Man, 1970

Alien Thunder, 1974

The Outlaw Josey Wales, 1976

Television

Cariboo Country, 1960

The Beachcombers, 1972–81

Poetry

My Heart Soars, 1974

My Spirit Soars, 1982

Stage

The Ecstasy of Rita Joe, 1967

Bibliography

“Chief Dan George, 82, Dies; Appeared in Little Big Man.” New York Times 24 Sept. 1981. Web. 6 Aug. 2013.

“Little Big Man.” Wild West 23.2 (Aug. 2010): 74. Print.

Melli, Dianne. “Popular Actor and Chief Accomplished Much before His Death.” Windspeaker 26.3 (June 2008): 26. Print.

Petten, Cheryl. “Acclaimed Actor, Gentle Soul.” Windspeaker 21.3 (June 2003): 30. Print.

“This Day in History: July 1, 1967.” Vancouver Sun 1 July 2013. Web. 6 Aug. 2013.