Eric Schweig

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Eric Schweig (born on 19 June 1967 in Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada) is a Canadian actor best known for his role as Uncas in the 1992 film The Last of the Mohicans. Since then he has appeared in Squanto: A Warrior's Tale as Squanto's friend Epenow, The Scarlet Letter and numerous other films. In addition to acting he is a renowned master carver of Inuit masks and carvings.


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[edit] Biography

Eric Schweig is a Canadian actor and an artisan actually established in Vancouver. He was born June 19th 1967 in Inuvik, Northwest Territory. From an Inuit lineage on his mother side, and German descent on his father side [1]. he was adopted at the age of six months by a Caucasian (German-French) family [2]. He spent his childhood in Inuvik, until he was six, and then moved to Toronto, Ontario.


At the age of 16, Eric Schweig left his fosterhome and supported himself by framing houses. In 1987, at twenty years old, he was approached by a producer who suggested he audition for a role in the movie called The Shaman's Source. Without any formal education or experience as an actor, but gifted with a natural talent for acting, he won the role. The Shaman's Source launched his career in the film industry.


Amongst his numerous screen credits since then (more than thirty) Eric Schweig acting highlights include his portrayal of Uncas in the epic motion picture The Last of the Mohicans (1992) and his portrayal of Pike Dexter in the movie Big Eden (2000), for which he won the Grand Jury Prize at the Los Angeles Outfest.


Amongst his period film credits since The Last of the Mohicans, Eric Schweig became the famous Mohawk leader Joseph Brandt / Thayendanegea in the movie The Broken Chain (1993), playing for the first time the main character in a movie. More recently, Eric Schweig also landed the lead actor in movies addressing more contemporary issues about aboriginal people: Skins (2002), Cowboys and Indians: The J.J. Harper Story (2003) and One Dead Indian (2006).


During the 90s, Eric Schweig started an artistic quest to regain his aboriginal roots. Like many Inuits, and since his childhood, Eric Schweig has carved small objects in wood or stone (figure, kayak, etc.). Under the coaching of artist Vern Etzerza, he studied traditional Pacific Coast carving before directing his talent specifically towards the recreation of the traditional Inuit Spirit Masks, in collaboration with master carver Art Thompson.


The collection of masks carved by Eric Schweig is not only a successful attempt to reconnect with his heritage and with Inuit art, but also a necessary labour of psychological resilience facing traumatised childhood. In 1999, at the Vancouver Inner City Foster Care Conference, Eric Schweig indeed delivered a heartfelt testimony about his painful experience of adoption and violence[3]. As a disastrous consequence of this uprooting and manhandling, Eric Schweig struggle during many years against alcohol abuse and drug abuse.


His fame as an actor gives him the opportunity to share his own experience of life during numerous speeches he performed in Canada and United States of America. He was able then to aware a large audience to aboriginal issues regarding the care of children.

[edit] Selected filmography


FILMOGRAPHY

1990 : The Shaman's Source : Robert Crow

1992 : By Way of the Stars (TV) : Black Thunder

1992 : The Last of the Mohicans : Uncas

1993 : For Love and Glory (TV) : Moses Moon

1993 : The Broken Chain (TV) : Joseph Brandt / Theyendangea

1994 : Squanto: A Warrior's Tale : Epenow

1994 : Pontiac Moon : Ernest Ironplume

1995 : Follow the River (TV) : Wildcat

1995 : The Scarlet Letter : Metacomet

1995 : Tom and Huck : Injun Joe

1996 : Red River (TV) : Napoléon

1996 : Dead Man's Walk (TV) : Buffalo Hump

2000 : Big Eden : Pike Dexter

2002 : Skins : Rudy Yellow Lodge

2003 : Mr. Barrington : Samuel

2003 : Cowboys and Indians: The J.J. Harper Story (TV) : Harry Wood

2003 : The Missing : Pesh-Chidin a.k.a. El Brujo

2005 : Into the West (TV) : Sitting Bull

2005 : It Waits : Joseph Riverwind

2005 : Shania: A Life in Eight Albums (TV) : Jerry Twain

2006 : One Dead Indian (TV) : Sam George

2006 : Indian Summer: The Oka Crisis

2006 : Not Like Everyone Else : Tim Blackbear

2006 : Mr. Soul : Steve Lonethunder

2007 : Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee : Gall

2008 : The Stone Child (in production) : Ray


Guest star in television series :

1988 : War of the Worlds episode "Dust To Dust" (episode # 1.14)

1994 : Due South

1994 : Hawkeye episode "The Ally" (episode # 1.13)

1995 : 500 Nations(voice only)

2000 : Canada : A People's History (episode # 5)

2000 : Hollywood Off-Ramp episode "Casino" (episode # 1.6)

[edit] Awards

2000 : Grand Jury Award L.A. Outfest

Outstanding Actor in a Feature Film for Big Eden

Eric was also honoured on June 9, 2008, with an Honorary Doctorate of Education from Nipissing University, one of Canada's most highly regarded faculties of education.

[edit] External links

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