Chief Dan George—Actor and Activist exhibition opens at Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre in Whistler, to February 2
Exhibit created by MONOVA: Museum and Archives of North Vancouver explores life and legacy of late Tsleil-Waututh actor, author, musician, poet, activist, environmentalist, and First Nations advocate
Chief Dan George.
Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre presents Chief Dan George—Actor and Activist until February 2
THE SQUAMISH LIL’WAT Cultural Centre has a new feature exhibition up and running about a prominent late Tsleil-Waututh leader. Created by MONOVA: Museum and Archives of North Vancouver, Chief Dan George—Actor and Activist is on until February 2.
George was an author, actor, longshoreman, logger, construction worker, musician, poet, activist, environmentalist, lecturer, and advocate for First Nations rights. Born Geswanouth Slahoot in 1899, George was the son of hereditary chief George Sla-holt and was raised on the Burrard Indian Reserve #3. He received his English name at St. Paul’s residential school, which he was forced to attend at age five.
Chief of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation from 1951 to 1963, George was married to Amy George for 51 years and had six children: Amy Marie, Ann, Irene, Rose, Leonard, and Robert.
Having died in 1981 at age 82, he launched his acting career when he was 60.
He appeared in multiple TV, movie, and stage productions including roles as Ol’ Antoine in the CBC’s Cariboo Country and as Rita Joe’s father in the original production of George Ryga’s The Ecstasy of Rita Joe. He had roles in Bonanza, The Littlest Hobo, Kung Fu, The Beachcombers, and Marcus Welby, M.D.
During his Hollywood career, George starred in Smith! as well as in Little Big Man alongside Dustin Hoffman. For the latter, he earned an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor, a first for an Indigenous actor. He won other awards for the role, including from the National Society of Film Critics and the New York Film Critics Circle. He also appeared alongside Clint Eastwood in The Outlaw Josey Wales and in other films such as Alien Thunder, Cold Journey, and Shadow of the Hawk.
At the 1967 centennial celebrations in Vancouver, George recited “Lament for Confederation”, his well-publicized prose poem about the oppression of Indigenous peoples in Canada.
George’s books include My Heart Soars and My Spirit Soars, both works of prose and poetry.
An Officer of the Order of Canada, George was commemorated by Canada Post with a special stamp in 2008.
Entry to Chief Dan George—Actor and Activist is included with museum admission, which also provides access to hourly What We Treasure guided tours with an SLCC ambassador. 
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