Chief Dan George

Birth Name: Geswanouth Slahoot

Date of Birth: July 24, 1899

Place of Birth: Tsleil-Waututh, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Date of Death: September 23, 1981

Place of Death: North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Ethnicity: Coast Salish First Nations

Chief Dan George was a chief of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, from 1951 to 1963, and an actor, musician, poet, and author. Before his acting career, he was a longshoreman, construction worker, and school bus driver. His film roles include Smith! (1969), Little Big Man, for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor; Cancel My Reservation, Alien Thunder, The Bears and I, Harry and Tonto, The Outlaw Josey Wales, Shadow of the Hawk, Americathon, Spirit of the Wind, and Nothing Personal (1980). He wrote the books My Heart Soars and My Spirit Soars.

Chief Dan George was the son of Annie Harry (Charley) and Chief James George Sla-Holt George. The Tsleil-Waututh Nation are a Coast Salish band, whose reserve is located on Burrard Inlet in the southeast area of the District of North Vancouver, British Columbia. The nation was called the Burrard Indian Band when he was chief. His English name was Dan Slaholt. His surname was changed to George after he entered a residential school was he was five, around 1904.

Chief Dan George was married to Amy Cecilia (Jack). He was the grandfather of Lee Maracle (born Marguerite Aline Carter), an Indigenous writer and academic of the Stó꞉lō nation; her sister, Joan Phillip (born Joan Carter), a Tsleil-Waututh politician, who has been a member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, since 2023; and actress and British Columbia councillor Charlene Aleck. Joan Phillip is married to Grand Chief Stewart Phillip. He was also the great-grandfather of photographer, actress, playwright, poet, and teacher Columpa Bobb and actor and television presenter Sid Bobb, who were Lee’s children.

Chief Dan George’s maternal grandfather was named Jimmy Harry Hundred Katxela Charley (the son of Chief Thomas Tetemoia Charley and Marguerite/Margaret). Jimmy was born in Cariboo, British Columbia.

Chief Dan George’s maternal grandmother was named Theresa Mary Kretarenate. Theresa was born in British Columbia.

Sources: Genealogies of Chief Dan George – https://www.geni.com
https://www.findagrave.com