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Actor, author, and musician Chief Dan George was born in present-day North Vancouver as Geswanouth Slahoot (later anglicized as 'Dan Slaholt'), the son of a tribal chief on Burrard Indian Reserve Nº. 3. He is the only Aboriginal actor in Canadian history to date with the right to use the title "Chief", serving as leader of the Squamish First Nation of Burrard Inlet from 1951-63, and retained the honorary title after his term ended. His last name was changed to George when at age 5 he entered a mission boarding school where the use of his native language was discouraged, if not forbidden.

Until 1959, he had worked as a longshoreman, logger, bus driver, and itinerant musician. After spending much of his early life as a longshoreman, a construction worker, and a school-bus driver, Chief Dan George auditioned for the role of Ol' Antoine on Cariboo Country (1960), a CBC series, and won the part. He made his screen debut at age 65. On the strength of his performance in the series, and after playing the same part in Smith! (1969), a Disney adaptation of one of the show's episodes based on "Breaking Smith's Quarterhorse", a novella by Paul St. Pierre, and starring Glenn Ford, he was asked to play "Old Lodge Skins" in Little Big Man (1970). This role led to an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in 1970. He continued to appear in films and became an accomplished stage actor. He died in 1981 on the same Indian reserve where he was born in North Vancouver at age 82.

(10/2003) Book: &quot;the best of Chief Dan George&quot; by Chief Dan George. Drawings by Helmut Hirnschall. Big Country Books. ISBN-10: 0888395442; ISBN-13: 978-0888395443 (192 Pages)

(05/1973) Stage Play: &quot;The Ecstasy of Rita Joe&quot; from George Ryga - Actor as Rita Joe&#39;s Father. Also with Francis Hyland as Rita Joe. Directed by George Bloomfield. Vancouver Playhouse Theatre, Canada

(01/1976) Book: &quot;My Heart Soars&quot; by Chief Dan George. Drawings by Helmut Hirnschall. Big Country Books. ISBN-10: 0919654150; ISBN-13: 978-0919654150 (Paperback 06/1989. Hancock House Pub Ltd. ISBN-10: 0888392311; ISBN-13: 978-0888392312) 95 Pages

(1974) Book: &quot;My Heart Soars&quot; by Chief Dan George. Drawings by Helmut Hirnschall. 95 Pages (Canada Version)

(07/1983) Book: &quot;My Spirit Soars&quot; by Chief Dan George. Drawings by Helmut Hirnschall. Big Country Books. ISBN-10: 0888391544; ISBN-13: 978-0888391544 (96 Pages)

(01/1972) Book: &quot;Abundant Rivers&quot; by Chief Dan George &amp; Anthony Carter. Hancock House Pub Ltd. ISBN-10: 0919654193; ISBN-13: 978-0919654198 (144 Pages)

(1971) Vinyl Record LP: The Ecstasy of Rita Joe by Chief Dan George, Ann Mortifee &amp; Paul Horn. Kerygma Records KRS 1005 (Canada) Re-Released 1973 by United Artists Records UA-LA 126-F and 1980 by Jabula Records JR 34.

(1973) Vinyl Record Single: Chief Dan George &amp; Fireweed - My Blue Heaven / Indian Prayer. Can-Base Records CB4-505 (Canada)

(1974) Vinyl Record LP: Chief Dan George &amp; Fireweed - In Circle. Can-Base Records CBI-5002 Columbia (Canada) - Chief Dan George on 4 Tracks (Centennial Speech; My Blue Heaven; Paddle Song &amp; Indian Prayer)

(1975) Vinyl Record LP: Chief Dan George, Arliene Nofchissey Williams &amp; Rick Brosseau - Proud Earth. Salt City Records SC-60 (USA)

Other works

Chief Dan George

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