Chief Dan George (July 24, 1899–September 23, 1981) was a chief of the Burrard Band, a Salish First Nations people located in Burrard Inlet, British Columbia. Chief George was also a notable actor.

He was born Geswanouth Slahoot on a First Nations reserve in North Vancouver in 1899. His English name was Dan Slaholt. His last name was changed to George when he entered a residential school at the age of 5. He worked at a number of different jobs including longshoreman, construction worker and school bus driver. He was chief of the Salish band from 1951 to 1963.

When he was over 60, he got his first job acting in a CBC television series, Cariboo Country, in 1960. He performed the same role in a Walt Disney Studios movie, Smith!, adapted from an episode in this series. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the movie Little Big Man at the age of 71. He continued to act in other movies, such as The Outlaw Josey Wales, and on television, including the miniseries Centennial, based on the book by James A. Michener.

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

During his acting career, Chief Dan George also worked to promote better understanding by non-natives of First Nations people. His soliloquy, Lament for Confederation, was performed at the city of Vancouver's celebration of the Canadian centennial in 1967.

He died in Vancouver in 1981.

His books include

• My Heart Soars (ISBN 0-88839-231-1)
• My Spirit Soars (ISBN 0-88839-233-8)
• You Call Me Chief: Impressions of the Life of Chief Dan George (with Hilda Mortimer) (ISBN 0-38504-806-8)

Notable Family

• Lee Maracle (Grand-daughter) - poet/author/activist/professor
• Columpa Bobb (Great-grand-daughter) - actor/poet

External link

• Lament for Confederation (http://www.canadahistory.com/sections/documents/1967_dan_george.htm)