As the world remembers Graham Greene for his Oscar-nominating role in Dancing With Wolves, Williams Lake City Councillor Michael Moses remembers the actor as an inspiration, as well as a friend.
“It was something very special for First Nations people to see someone like ourselves on TV,” said Moses on the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 2, the day after Greene’s death.
Moses met the actor, who was Oneida from Six Nations of the Grand River in southern Ontario, a few years ago when he was in Toronto for work. He would later attend a celebration for Greene’s induction to Canada’s Walk of Fame, which referred to Greene as one of the country’s “.”
Moses described Greene as “really caring, smart, witty and ready to make time for anyone who wants his time.” He recalled how, during Greene’s induction acceptance speech, Moses teased the actor by shouting ‘Love you, Uncle Graham.' Greene came back with ‘that’s not my nephew.’
“He took it right in stride…that’s the kind of quickness you would expect,” Moses said.
Knowingly or not, Moses said the actor has certainly changed the path for many First Nations. Take William Belleau, for instance, a member of the Secwepemc Nation of the Esk'etemc who played Henry Roan in Killers of the Flower Moon. Following Greene's death, Belleau posted on his social media: "Without him, there is no me. I’m eternally grateful for the foundation he has established for our community before I even knew I wanted to be an actor, storyteller in film."
Moses said seeing Greene in films brought dreams for Indigenous people to a whole new level.
"If he can get on the screen with Kevin Costner, it lets us think that we can do anything," Moses said about how Greene's career impacted First Nations peoples across Canada.
“Graham’s trailblazing spirit, generosity, and legacy will continue to inspire for generations - and we will always, always remember that smile,” wrote the Canada’s Walk of Fame organization in a Facebook post in honour of the actor.
Greene was a member of the Order of Canada, and will also be remembered for his work in The Green Mile, Wind River, Reservation Dogs, Maverick and more.