Chief Dan George was born Tes-wah-no (also known as Dan Slaholt) to a tribal chief on Burrard Reserve No.3 on Vancouver Island. His last name was changed to George when he entered a mission boarding school at the age of 5, where the use of his native language was discouraged, if not forbidden.

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 Old Antoine on Cariboo Country, a CBC television series, and was offered the part. On the strength of his performance in the series, and after playing the same part in a Disney adaptation of one the show's episodes, he was asked to play Old Lodge Skins in Little Big Man; this role led to a nomination for Best Supporting Actor in 1970. He continued to appear in a variety of films, and also became an accomplished stage actor.

He became an influential speaker on the rights of the native peoples of North America. He died in 1981 on the same reservation where he was born.


Was chief of the Burrard Band of North Vancouver, British Columbia (aka the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation today), from 1951 to 1963. Although the position is elected, not hereditary, his son is chief today. Was a successful poet. Wrote two books of poetry, My Heart Soars (1974) and My Spirit Soars (1982). Also recited his famous work, "Lament for Confederation," at Vancouver, British Columbia's 1967 Canadian Centennial celebrations in Empire Stadium; the speech was a stirring - and unexpected - indictment of colonialism's impact on First Nations people and helped galvanize native political activism in British Columbia, and also created support and awareness among non-natives. Until 1959 (when he was 60 years old), he worked as a longshoreman, logger and itinerant musician. Has a public school named after him in Toronto, Ontario.