By: Dan George, Chief, Hirnschall, Helmut
ISBN: 0888395442/9780888395443
Binding: Trade Paper
Size: 8.5" X 5.5"
Pages: 128
Photos: 0
Illustrations: 95
Publication Date: 2025 (reprint)

 

The Best of Chief Dan George is a deeply moving collection that brings together the wisdom, poetry, and philosophy of a distinguished Tsleil-Waututh chief, and one of the most beloved Indigenous voices of the 20th century. Combining the bestselling works My Heart Soars and My Spirit Soars, this volume captures Chief Dan George’s profound reflections on nature, identity, love, and the struggles of Indigenous peoples.

Enriched with evocative illustrations by Helmut Hirnschall, this edition also includes a biographical sketch by Harriett Shlossberg and the powerful Lament for Confederation, a striking commentary on the impact of colonization. Through his words, Chief Dan George shares timeless truths that inspire reverence for the land, respect for all cultures, and hope for a more just world.

Perfect for readers seeking wisdom, inspiration, and a deeper understanding of Indigenous perspectives, The Best of Chief Dan George is a must-have for those who cherish poetic storytelling and heartfelt reflection.

 

 

Chief Dan George (1899–1981) was a revered performer, poet, philosopher, and champion of First Nations peoples. Born on a Salish Band reserve on Burrard Inlet, North Vancouver, he was sent to a residential school at five, an experience that distanced him from his family, language, and culture. After working in forestry and as a longshoreman to support his wife, Amy, and their children, he found joy performing country and western music with his family as Dan George and His Indian Entertainers. In his sixties, he launched an acting career, earning an Academy Award nomination for Little Big Man (1970) and starring in films like The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976). Beyond acting, he was a gifted writer and advocate, known for My Heart Soars, My Spirit Soars, and his powerful 1967 speech, Lament for Confederation, which critiqued colonialism and called for Indigenous rights. Until his passing in 1981, he remained a respected elder, storyteller, and advocate, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire the preservation of Indigenous culture, wisdom, and resilience.

This is a delightful, must have book. Dan George is a foremost Canadian philosopher, whose works should and will be studied for future generations of scholars. He puts the position of our Natives and their invaders in a way that calls out for understanding and immediate rectification.
-- Ron MacIsaac, Dec 2010