"You know, Ray, when we were kids, we used to play cowboys and Indians? I was always Gary Cooper. I didn't want to be an Indian. Government boarding school made sure of that. Cut off my hair, washed my mouth out with soap when I spoke my own language. My own language, Ray. When the A.R.M. warriors came here it was like an awakening. Got the people proud of their heritage, their elders, the language. And you call them enemies. Tough call all the way around, ennit, Ray? You just keep on doing that."
- Granham Greene as Crow Horse in Thunderheart (1992).
Graham Greene (June 22, 1952 – September 1, 2025) was a Canadian actor of Oneida descent, born in Ohsweken, Ontario, on the Six Nations Reserve. He was best known for his powerful and nuanced portrayals of Indigenous characters in film, television and theatre. Greene gained international recognition and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Kicking Bird in Dances with Wolves (1990). Throughout his career, he appeared in a wide range of productions, including Thunderheart, The Green Mile, Wind River, and the TV series Longmire and 1883, consistently bringing depth and authenticity to his roles. A respected figure in both Indigenous and mainstream media, Greene was a prominent voice for American Indigenous representation in the entertainment industry.
Learn more about the lasting impact of government boarding schools or Indian Residential Schools in North America, as well as the settlement reached with the Canadian government, opens a new window in 2021.
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