Photo: Colin Dangaard / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Chief Dan George occupies a rare place for me, someone whose life mattered far beyond the screen. Born Geswanouth Slahoot in 1899, he was chief of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation on Burrard Inlet before Hollywood ever called, and that grounding shows in everything he did. He came to acting late, yet carried a dignity the industry rarely afforded Indigenous performers, and he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada for it. What stays with me most is My Heart Soars, his best-known written work. He was actor, poet, and author, but above all a leader, and I think the words outlast the films.
Overview
Chief Dan George (born Geswanouth Slahoot; July 24, 1899 – September 23, 1981) was a chief of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, a Coast Salish band whose Indian reserve is located on Burrard Inlet in the southeast area of the District of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He also was an actor, musician, poet and author. The Chief's best-known written work is My Heart Soars.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Chief Dan George
- Name (Japanese)
- チーフ・ダン・ジョージ
- Reading
- ちーふ・だん・じょーじ
- Born
- July 24, 1899 – September 23, 1981
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Leo / Boar
- Origin
- Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- film actor / traditional leader or chief / poet / autobiographer / television actor
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- Private
Awards & achievements
- Officer of the Order of Canada
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
Film actor — see all → · More people from Canada →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.