Chief Dan George facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chief Dan George OC
Born	Geswanouth Slahoot (1899-07-24)July 24, 1899 Tsleil-Waututh, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Died	September 23, 1981(1981-09-23) (aged 82) North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Occupation	Author poet actor
Years active	1951–1981
Relatives	Lee Maracle (granddaughter) Charlene Aleck (granddaughter) Joan Phillip (granddaughter) Columpa Bobb (great-granddaughter)

Chief Dan George was a respected leader of the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation, an Indigenous community in British Columbia, Canada. He was born as Geswanouth Slahoot on July 24, 1899, and passed away on September 23, 1981.

Beyond his role as a chief, Dan George was also a talented actor, musician, poet, and author. Many remember him for his powerful acting roles, especially as Old Lodge Skins in the movie Little Big Man (1970). For this role, he was even nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He also appeared in The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) with Clint Eastwood. His most famous book of poetry is My Heart Soars.

Chief Dan George's Early Life

Dan George was born Geswanouth Slahoot in North Vancouver. When he was five years old, he attended a school where his surname was changed to George. Before becoming famous, he worked many different jobs. He was a longshoreman, a construction worker, and even a school bus driver.

From 1951 to 1963, he served as the band chief for the Tsleil-Waututh Nation. This showed his strong leadership skills within his community.

Becoming an Actor

His First Roles and Big Break

Chief Dan George began his acting career later in life, at the age of 60, in 1960. His first role was in a TV series called Cariboo Country, where he played a character named Ol' Antoine. He later played this same character in the Walt Disney Studios film Smith! (1969).

His acting career took off in 1970 when he was 71 years old. He starred in the film Little Big Man and received many awards and nominations for his performance. This included a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, which is a huge honor in the film industry.

Later Acting Success

After his success in Little Big Man, Chief Dan George continued to act in many films and TV shows. In 1971, he appeared in the Western series Bonanza as Chief Red Cloud. He also performed in a stage play in several major cities.

He had a recurring role as Chief Moses Charlie in the TV series The Beachcombers starting in 1972. He continued this role until his passing in 1981. During this time, he also recorded an album called Chief Dan George & Fireweed – In Circle, which was released in 1974. He appeared in films like The Bears and I (1974) and Harry and Tonto (1974).

In 1976, he acted alongside Clint Eastwood in the Western film The Outlaw Josey Wales. He also appeared in the miniseries Centennial in 1978. His final film role was in Nothing Personal in 1980.

A Voice for His People

Chief Dan George used his growing fame to help people understand Indigenous peoples better. He wanted to build bridges between different cultures.

In 1967, he gave a powerful speech called Lament for Confederation during Canada's 100th birthday celebration in Vancouver. In this speech, he shared the history and experiences of Indigenous peoples in Canada. His words encouraged many people, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to think about and respect Indigenous cultures and lands. This speech is seen as a very important moment for Indigenous rights in Canada.

His Writings and Poetry

Chief Dan George was also a gifted writer and poet. He published his first book, My Heart Soars, in 1974. This was followed by My Spirit Soars in 1983, after his passing. These two books were later combined into The Best of Chief Dan George, which became a very popular book.

One of his most famous poems is A Lament for Confederation. His writings often shared his deep connection to nature and his thoughts on life.

Awards and Recognition

Chief Dan George received several important awards and nominations for his acting. Here are some of the accolades he earned for his role in Little Big Man:

Lasting Legacy

Chief Dan George's star on Granville Street, Vancouver, BC

In 1971, Chief Dan George was given a high honor: he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. This award recognizes Canadians who have made a big difference to the country.

His words continue to inspire people. For example, Canadian actor Donald Sutherland recited a quote from Chief Dan George's poem "My Heart Soars" at the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver:

The beauty of the trees,

the softness of the air,

the fragrance of the grass,

speaks to me.

And my heart soars.

Several places have been named in his honor, including:

• Chief Dan George Middle School in Abbotsford, British Columbia
• Chief Dan George Public School in Toronto, Ontario
• Chief Dan George Theatre at the University of Victoria, British Columbia

In 2008, Canada Post released a postage stamp featuring Chief Dan George as part of its "Canadians in Hollywood" series.

Family Connections

Chief Dan George's family has continued his legacy of creativity and activism. His granddaughter Lee Maracle was a well-known poet, author, and professor. Another granddaughter, Charlene Aleck, is an actress who also appeared on The Beachcombers. His granddaughter Joan Phillip is a politician in British Columbia.

His great-granddaughter Columpa Bobb is an actress and poet. His grandson Rueben George is a writer and activist who published a book in 2023. Chief Dan George's grand-nephew, Chief Jesse "Nighthawk" George, is also a tribal peace chief in Virginia.

Films and TV Shows

Books by Chief Dan George

• 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

Images for kids

• 

  Dan George with Sondra Locke and Clint Eastwood promoting The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976).

See Also

In Spanish: Chief Dan George para niños

• Dark Cloud
• Chief Thundercloud
• Iron Eyes Cody
• History of Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh longshoremen, 1863–1963
• Indigenous Canadian personalities
• Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast