At the age of 60, Chief Dan George landed his first acting role.  George refused to play roles or in films that he believed demeaned his people and his culture. He never sold out.

Born Geswanouth Slahoot in 1899 in Vancouver, George was a Tsleil-Waututh Nation chief.  For many years, he bounced around in a variety of jobs;  longshoreman, construction worker, and school bus driver.  Nugget:  all jobs are important and they make you who you are.  

At the age of 60, George landed his first acting job in 1960.  Nugget: you’re never too old.  So by the time The Outlaw Josey Wales was filmed, Dan was up there in years.  Due to his age, Dan had trouble remembering his lines.  During takes, Clint Eastwood would begin to mouth Dan’s lines without realizing it.  To keep the film from being ruined, the director had to tell Eastwood to stop.  Eventually, Chief Dan was told to just forget about the lines, and tell the story in his own words.

Chief Dan George was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in Little Big Man.  He was a published author and he was seen by many as a role model for Indigenous peoples.  Chief George refused to play roles or in films that he believed demeaned his people and his culture.  He never forgot his roots and his home remained on his reservation throughout his life.  

“I don’t surrender, but they took my horse and made him surrender.” George