CHIEF DAN GEORGE WAS A GIFTED ACTOR AND GAINED MUCH RESPECT FROM AMERICAN ACTORS AS WELL AS CANADIAN ACTORS. HE WAS CHIEF OF THE SALISH INDIAN TRIBE IN BURRARD INLET, BRITISH COLUMBIA.
HE WAS BORN 'GESWANOUTH SLAHHOT' ON JULY 24, 1899, IN NORTH VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA. HE ALWAYS LIVED ON HIS TRIBAL GROUND WHERE HE AND WIFE RAISED THEIR FAMILY. HE WAS 82 YEARS OLD WHEN HE DIED. HE WAS BURIED AT HIS NATIVE BIRTH PLACE WITH FULL HONORS. THE NEXT CHIEF WAS HIS OLDEST SON.
CHIEF DAN GEORGE WAS 60 YEARS-OLD WHEN HE BECAME AN ACTOR. HE FIRST CAME TO PROMINENCE IN A SUPPORTING ROLE AS THE INDIAN WHO ADOPTED
DUSTIN HOFFMAN IN "LITTLE BIG MAN" IN 1970.
HE RECEIVED AN ACADEMY WARD NOMINATION.
HE WAS 71 YEARS-OLD AT THAT TIME.
THE CHIEF ALSO PLAYED THE OLD SIOUX INDIAN IN
THE TV MINI-SERIES EPIC, "CENTENNIAL" IN 1978. HE STATED THAT NO ONE IS EVER TOO OLD TO LEARN.
HE PROVED HIS OWN ADAGE.
CHIEF DAN GEORGE ALSO STARRED AS THE BUMBLING COMPANION IN "THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES." HE SHOWED A DRY SENSE OF HUMOR THAT WAS A HILARIOUS TURN FOR THE CHIEF. HE MADE A TOTAL OF TEN AMERICAN FILMS.
"WE ARE FEARFUL THAT WHAT YOU TAKE WILL BE LOST.
I SHALL USE THE INSTRUMENTS OF THE WHITE MAN'S SUCCESS:
HIS EDUCATION, HIS SKILLS, AND SOCIETY."
(CHIEF DAN GEORGE)
"IF YOU TALK TO THE ANIMALS, THEY WILL TALK WITH YOU. YOU WILL KNOW EACH OTHER. IF YOU DO NOT TALK TO THEM, YOU WILL NOT KNOW THEM. WHAT YOU DO NOT KNOW, YOU WILL FEAR.
