Chief Dan George
{{Short description|Chief of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, actor (1899–1981)}}
{{for|the Welsh rugby player|Dan George (rugby union)}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=July 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix = Chief
| name = Dan George
| honorific_suffix = OC
| image = ChiefDan George.jpg
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1899|07|24}}
| birth_name = Geswanouth Slahoot
| birth_place = Tsleil-Waututh, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| death_date = {{death date and age|1981|09|23|1899|07|24}}
| death_place = North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| relatives = {{ubl|Lee Maracle (granddaughter)|Charlene Aleck (granddaughter)|Joan Phillip (granddaughter)|Columpa Bobb (great-granddaughter)}}
| years_active = 1951–1981
| occupation = {{hlist|Author|poet|actor}}
}}
Chief Dan George {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|OC}} (born Geswanouth Slahoot; 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 also was an actor, musician, poet and author. The Chief's best-known written work is My Heart Soars.{{Cite web|url=https://interactiveoceans.washington.edu/story/My_Heart_Soars/|title=OOI Regional Cabled Array|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106171657/https://interactiveoceans.washington.edu/story/My_Heart_Soars/|archive-date=November 6, 2015|url-status=dead|access-date=May 15, 2023}} 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, and for his role in The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976), as Lone Watie, opposite Clint Eastwood.
Early life
Born as Geswanouth Slahoot in North Vancouver,Christine Armstrong, [https://books.google.com/books?id=u_KHdgEr61UC&pg=PA14 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 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, construction worker, and school bus driver,{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pLbMzGDhTOIC&q=Chief%20Dan%20George&pg=PA138|title=Back in the saddle: essays on Western film and television actors|first=Gary A|last=Yoggy |publisher=Jefferson, NC [u.a.] McFarland |year=1998|page=138|isbn=0-7864-0566-X|access-date=October 25, 2010}} and was band chief of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation from 1951 to 1963 (then called the Burrard Indian Band).{{cite web|title=First Nations - Land Rights and Environmentalism in British Columbia|url=http://www.firstnations.de/development/eagleridge_bluffs.htm|publisher=Institute for the History of Science – University of Goettingen|year=2005|access-date=October 26, 2010}}
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),{{Cite web|title=AFI{{!}}Catalog|url=http://catalog.afi.com/Film/23672-SMITH?cxt=filmography|access-date=2021-07-30|website=catalog.afi.com}} 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's film Little Big Man, including a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/oscars/ |title=CBC News Indepth: Oscars |publisher=Cbc.ca |access-date=October 26, 2010}}{{Cite web|title=AFI{{!}}Catalog|url=http://catalog.afi.com/Film/23522-LITTLE-BIG-MAN?cxt=filmography|access-date=2021-07-30|website=catalog.afi.com}}
= 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, the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, and Washington, D.C.
In 1972, he was among the guests in David Winters's television special The Special London Bridge Special.{{Cite news|date=May 6, 1972|title=Lake Havasu city plays a starring role in special|page=12-D|work=Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph}} That same year he acted in the film Paul Bogart's Cancel My Reservation,{{Cite web|title=AFI{{!}}Catalog|url=http://catalog.afi.com/Film/54526-CANCEL-MY-RESERVATION?cxt=filmography|access-date=2021-07-30|website=catalog.afi.com}} and got the recurring role of 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,{{cite magazine|author=Michael Bennett|date=September 30, 1972|title=Western Canada:Activity abounds on all fronts|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YUUEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA48|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|pages=48–|issn=0006-2510|magazine=Billboard}} with "Indian Prayer" on the reverse. His album, Chief Dan George & Fireweed – In Circle, was released in 1974 comprising these songs and seven others.[https://www.straight.com/music/904286/50-albums-shaped-vancouver "The 50 albums that shaped Vancouver"]. Georgia Straight, May 3, 2017. by John Lucas, Adrian Mack, Steve Newton, Mike Usinger, Alexander Varty.
The following year he had roles in Alien Thunder (1974),{{Cite web|title=Blood on the Poplars: ALIEN THUNDER (1974) and the Story of Almighty Voice|url=https://lumaquarterly.com/issues/volume-three/012-spring/blood-on-the-poplars-alien-thunder-1974-and-the-story/|access-date=2021-07-30|website=Luma Quarterly|language=en-US}} The Bears and I (1974),{{Cite web|title=AFI{{!}}Catalog|url=http://catalog.afi.com/Film/67558-THE-BEARS-AND-I-?cxt=filmography|access-date=2021-07-30|website=catalog.afi.com}} and Harry and Tonto (1974).{{Cite web|title=AFI{{!}}Catalog|url=http://catalog.afi.com/Film/55233-HARRY-AND-TONTO?cxt=filmography|access-date=2021-07-30|website=catalog.afi.com}}
In 1975, he portrayed the character Chief Stillwater in the "Showdown at Times Square" episode in Season 6 of McCloud.File:Josey Wales publicity.jpg and Clint Eastwood at a barbecue in Santa Fe, New Mexico, promoting The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976).]]
In 1976 he acted in Clint Eastwood's The Outlaw Josey Wales,{{Cite web|title=The Outlaw Josey Wales|url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/the-outlaw-josey-wales/2030114689/|access-date=2021-07-30|website=TVGuide.com|language=en}} and George McCowan's Shadow of the Hawk.{{Cite web|title=Shadow of the Hawk|url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/shadow-of-the-hawk/2000274591/|access-date=2021-07-30|website=TVGuide.com|language=en}}
On television the following year he had a role in the 1978 miniseries Centennial, based on the book by James A. Michener.
In 1979, he acted in Americathon,{{Cite web|title=Americathon|url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/americathon/2000004853/|access-date=2021-07-30|website=TVGuide.com|language=en}} and Spirit of the Wind.{{Cite web|title=AFI{{!}}Catalog|url=http://catalog.afi.com/Film/57094-SPIRIT-OF-THE-WIND?cxt=filmography|access-date=2021-07-30|website=catalog.afi.com}}
In 1980 he had his final film role in Nothing Personal.{{Cite web|title=Nothing Personal|url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/nothing-personal/2030103257/|access-date=2021-07-30|website=TVGuide.com|language=en}}
= 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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/09/24/obituaries/chief-dan-george-82-dies-appeared-in-little-big-man.html|title=Chief Dan George, 82, Dies; Appeared In 'Little Big Man'|newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 24, 1981|access-date=2022-07-01}} He was interred at Burrard Cemetery.
Personal life
Dan George's granddaughter Lee Maracle was a poet, author, activist, and professor.[http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/lee-maracle/ Lee Maracle], The Canadian Encyclopedia, Retrieved April 14, 2016 His granddaughter Charlene Aleck is an actress who performed for 18 years on The Beachcombers on CBC. His granddaughter Joan Phillip is the BC NDP 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 people. His soliloquy, Lament for Confederation,{{cite web|url=http://www.ammsa.com/node/29977|title=Chief Dan George: Acclaimed actor, gentle soul|year=2008|publisher=The Aboriginal Multi-Media Society|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100609134957/http://www.ammsa.com/node/29977|archive-date=June 9, 2010|url-status=dead|access-date=October 25, 2010}} an indictment of the appropriation of native territory by European colonialism, was performed at the City of Vancouver's celebration of the Canadian centennial in 1967.{{cite web|url=http://archives.cbc.ca/society/native_issues/clips/14948/|title=Chief Dan George – CBC Archives|publisher=Archives.cbc.ca|access-date=October 26, 2010}} 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.
| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 99%;" |
| scope="col" | Award
! scope="col" | Category ! scope="col" | Result |
|---|
| Academy Awards
| rowspan= "2" {{nom}} |
| Golden Globe Awards |
| New York Film Critics Circle Awards
| rowspan= "3" {{won}} |
| National Society of Film Critics Awards |
| Laurel Awards
| Best Supporting Performance, Male |
Honours and legacy
File:Chief Dan George's star on Granville Avenue, Vancouver, BC.jpg
In 1971, George was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.{{cite web|url=http://www.gg.ca/honour.aspx?id=1991&t=12|title=The Governor General of Canada|publisher=Gg.ca|access-date=October 26, 2010}}
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".{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tg51TNxGaokC&pg=PR18|title=Awakening the Spirit, Inspiring the Soul|first= Wayne |last=Teasdale|publisher=SkyLight Paths Pub|year=2004|page=xviii|isbn=1-59473-039-3 |access-date=October 25, 2010}}
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.{{cite web |last=Fralic |first=Shelley |url=https://vancouversun.com/entertainment/Opening+ceremony+Canada+Olympians+strut+their+stuff/2558141/story.html |title=Opening ceremony: Canadians strut their stuff |publisher=Vancouversun.com |date=February 12, 2010 |access-date=October 26, 2010 |archive-date=September 4, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100904002225/http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/Opening+ceremony+Canada+Olympians+strut+their+stuff/2558141/story.html |url-status=dead }}
: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
- Chief Dan George Public School in Toronto, Ontario{{cite web|url= http://www.tdsb.on.ca/SchoolWeb/_site/viewitem.asp?siteid=10378&pageid=18880&menuid=21673|title= Chief Dan George Public School|publisher= Toronto District School Board|access-date= April 18, 2011|archive-date= October 30, 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131030012054/http://www.tdsb.on.ca/SchoolWeb/_site/viewitem.asp?siteid=10378&pageid=18880&menuid=21673|url-status= dead}}
- Chief Dan George Theatre, Phoenix Theatre, University of Victoria, British Columbia
In 2008 Canada Post issued a postage stamp in its "Canadians in Hollywood" series featuring Chief Dan George.{{cite web|url=http://www.canadapost.ca/personal/collecting/stampquest/eng/cnd_hollywood-e.asp|title=Stamp Quest | Stamps : Canadians in Hollywood: The Sequel|date=June 30, 2008|publisher=Canadapost.ca|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111118211656/http://www.canadapost.ca/personal/collecting/stampquest/eng/cnd_hollywood-e.asp|archive-date=November 18, 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=October 26, 2010}}
Filmography
File:Man_Belongs_to_the_Earth.webm short environmentalist documentary film starring George]]
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year !! Title !! Role !! class="unsortable" | Notes | |||
| 1969 | Smith! | Ol' Antoine | |
| 1970 | Little Big Man | Old Lodge Skins | |
| 1972 | Cancel My Reservation | Old Bear | |
| 1972 | À bon pied, bon oeil | ||
| |1972-1981 | The Beachcombers | Chief Moses Charlie | 8 episodes |
| 1974 | Alien Thunder | Sounding Sky | |
| 1974 | data-sort-value="Bears and I, The" | The Bears and I | Chief Peter A-Tas-Ka-Nay | |
| 1974 | Harry and Tonto | Sam Two Feathers | |
| 1974 | Man Belongs to the Earth | Himself | |
| 1974 | Chief Dan George Speaks | Himself | |
| 1975 | Cold Journey | ||
| 1976 | data-sort-value="Outlaw Josey Wales, The" | The Outlaw Josey Wales | Lone Watie | |
| 1976 | Shadow of the Hawk | Old Man Hawk | |
| 1978 | Pump It Up | ||
| 1979 | Americathon | Sam Birdwater | |
| 1979 | Spirit of the Wind | Moses | |
| 1979 | data-sort-value="Incredible Hulk, The" | The Incredible Hulk | Lone Wolf | Season 2, Episode 19, "Kindred Spirits" |
| 1980 | Nothing Personal | Oscar |
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. [https://www.hancockhouse.com/collections/british-columbia/products/best-of-chief-dan-george The Best of Chief Dan George]. Surrey, B.C.: [https://www.hancockhouse.com/ Hancock House], 2003. {{ISBN|0-88839-544-2}}
See also
{{Portal|Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Canada|Biography}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|0313381}}
- [http://archives.cbc.ca/society/native_issues/clips/14948/ Chief Dan George] on CBC TV's Telescope, 1971
- {{find a Grave|10211109}}
{{National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor}}
{{New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:George, Chief Dan}}
Category:20th-century Canadian male actors
Category:20th-century Canadian poets
Category:20th-century First Nations writers
Category:Articles containing video clips
Category:Canadian male film actors
Category:Canadian male television actors
Category:First Nations male actors
Category:Indigenous leaders in British Columbia
Category:Industrial Workers of the World members
Category:Male Western (genre) film actors
Category:Male actors from Vancouver
Category:Officers of the Order of Canada