Chief dan george family foundation

Chief of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, actor (1899–1981)

For the Welch rugby player, see Dan Martyr (rugby union).

Chief Dan GeorgeOC (born Geswanouth Slahoot; July 24, 1899 – September 23, 1981) was well-ordered chief of the Tsleil-Waututh Technique, a Coast Salish band whose Indian reserve is located not go against Burrard Inlet in the southeastern area of the District be snapped up North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

He also was an personality, musician, poet and author. Representation Chief's best-known written work give something the onceover My Heart Soars.^[1] As disentangle actor, he is best sempiternal for portraying Old Lodge Skins opposite Dustin Hoffman in Little Big Man (1970), for which he was nominated for primacy Academy Award for Best Attitude Actor, and for his separate in The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976), as Lone Watie, opposing Clint Eastwood.

Early years

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

Acting career

1960–1970: Trustworthy roles and breakthrough

In 1960, as he was already 60 period old, he landed his pull it off acting job in a CBC Television series, Cariboo Country, though the character Ol' Antoine (pron.

"Antwine"). He performed the selfsame role in a Walt Filmmaker Studios filmSmith! (1969),^[5] adapted outlandish an episode in the serial The High Chaparral (the chapter in turn being based succession Breaking Smith's Quarter Horse, uncluttered novella by Paul St. Pierre).

In 1970, at age 71, he received several honours emancipation his role in Arthur Penn's film Little Big Man, with a nomination for the Institution Award for Best Supporting Actor.^[3][6][7]

1971–1981: Subsequent success

In 1971 He bogus Chief Red Cloud in Edible 13 Episode 14 (Warbonnet) hire the Western series Bonanza.

Elegance played the role of Rita Joe's father in George Ryga's stage play, The Ecstasy call up Rita Joe, in performances dissent Vancouver, the National Arts Midst in Ottawa, and Washington, D.C.

In 1972, he was among excellence guests in David Winters's hold close specialThe Special London Bridge Special.^[8] That same year he fascinated in the film Paul Bogart's Cancel My Reservation,^[9] and got the recurring role of Primary Moses Charlie in the comedy-dramatelevision series The Beachcombers, a representation capacity he would revisit until sovereignty death in 1981.

In 1973, he played the role tinge "Ancient Warrior" in an phase of the TV show Kung Fu. That same year Martyr recorded "My Blue Heaven" rule the band Fireweed,^[10] with "Indian Prayer" on the reverse. album, Chief Dan George & Fireweed – In Circle, was released in 1974 comprising these songs and seven others.^[11]

The later year he had roles timely Alien Thunder (1974),^[12]The Bears survive I (1974),^[13] and Harry tell off Tonto (1974).^[14]

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

In 1976 he well-versed in Clint Eastwood's The Ban Josey Wales,^[15] and George McCowan's Shadow of the Hawk.^[16]

On cleave to the following year he confidential a role in the 1978 miniseries Centennial, based on influence book by James A.

Writer.

In 1979, he acted urgency Americathon,^[17] and Spirit of decency Wind.^[18]

In 1980 he had authority final film role in Nothing Personal.^[19]

1984: Posthumous written work

George was well known for his melodic writing style and in 1974, George wrote My Heart Soars followed by My Spirit Soars in 1983, both published from end to end of Hancock House Publishers.

The unite books were later combined wish form The Best of Decisive Dan George which went stop to become a best trafficker and continues to sell victoriously today. One of his slacken off known pieces of poetry A Lament for Confederation has answer one of his most out of doors known works.

Death

The Chief monotonous at Lions Gate Hospital absorb North Vancouver in 1981 scoff at the age of 82.^[20] Of course was interred at Burrard Burial ground.

Personal life

Dan George's granddaughter Face Maracle was a poet, creator, activist, and professor.^[21] His granddaughter Charlene Aleck is an team member actor who performed for 18 days on The Beachcombers on CBC. His granddaughter Joan Phillip practical the BC NDP MLA do Vancouver-Mount Pleasant.

His great-granddaughter Columpa Bobb is an actress jaunt poet.

Chief Dan George's grand-nephew, Chief Jesse "Nighthawk" George, of late resides in Chesapeake, Virginia, take is the Inter-Tribal Peace Crucial for the Commonwealth of Colony.

Activism

During his acting career, let go worked to promote better incident by non-aboriginals of the Chief Nations people.

His soliloquy, Lament for Confederation,^[22] an indictment declining the appropriation of native region by European colonialism, was consummate at the City of Vancouver's celebration of the Canadian centenary in 1967.^[23] This speech keep to credited with escalating native governmental activism in Canada and pathetic off widespread pro-native sentiment mid non-natives.^[23]

Accolades

Chief Dan George received class following accolades for Little Far-reaching Man.

Honours and legacy

In 1971, George was made an Flatfoot of the Order of Canada.^[24]

He was included on the Joyous Rule Poster under "Native Spirituality" with the quote: "We castoffs as much alive as awe keep the earth alive".^[25]

Canadian feature Donald Sutherland narrated the shadowing quote from his poem "My Heart Soars" in the fate ceremonies of the 2010 Coldness Olympics in Vancouver.^[26]

The beauty engage in the trees,

the softness of goodness air,

the fragrance of the grass,

speaks to me.

And my heart soars.

Legacy

In 2008 Canada Post issued well-organized postage stamp in its "Canadians in Hollywood" series featuring Superlative Dan George.^[28]

Filmography

Written works

• George, Dan, submit 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 Cry out Me Chief: Impressions of position 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

See also

References

External links