We get impressions of people. More often than not, we’re close to the mark—the botoxed, spray-tanned suburban matron; the shlubby sports fan crushing beer cans on his forehead for a few dopey guffaws with his few dopey friends; the celebrity who chastises the common folk about global warming while jetting to his 12,000 square foot ski lodge in Telluride. 

Yep, you get impressions of people. But once in a while you meet a person who defies stereotyping. Sure, you might try to pigeonhole them, but dammit, they are and they aren’t what you expect. And how incredibly refreshing that is. 

Meet Dakota House. He’s an actor. He’s a youth activist. He’s a writer, single dad, former  bad-boy, and comedy show producer.

He is and isn’t what  you expect. 

Maybe because his life has defied the odds. After all, Dakota has hardly taken the path predicted for a Cree   kid who came from the mean streets of inner city Edmonton by way of a small Alberta reserve. Little is expected from kids like this; little except living down to  the low  markers placed on Aboriginals in Canada to this day. 

Introduced to audiences as Tee Vee Tenia on  the long-running CBC series, North of 60,  he’s appeared in Dreamkeeper, The X-Files, The Winter Chill,  and the part that earned him a nomination for Best Actor at the 2006 American Indian Film Festival, One Dead Indian.   Currently, he is writing a feature film and seeking network syndication of his comedy skit series, NCTV,  co-starring Nathaniel Arcand. 

Perhaps his proudest professional achievement is establishing the non-profit organization, Going M.I.L.E.S., which is dedicated to helping Aboriginal youth use the arts as a means of self-expression and self empowerment. No, we’re not done. Dakota also is an avid martial artist with a black belt in Hapkido, and has a children’s book, Dancers in the Sky,  to add to his writing credentials.  

Dakota House is and isn’t what you expect.  

After all, you gotta love a guy who agrees to be interviewed even though I called him while he sitting in the middle of a shopping mall eating lunch with his four kids. Between bites and the amazing patience of his children, you’ll get a sense of this energetic, passionate dude. Who’s an actor, youth activist, writer, former bad boy, and comedy show producer… 

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Why don’t you share with us a little bit about your background—who is Dakota House? 

I come from a small community in northern Alberta. When I was at a young, young age, my mom moved us to the city. Being from the city, I went through all the obstacles and peer pressure, discrimination, and so forth being an Aboriginal. When I was 17 years old I had a good indication I was going to join the army to become a fighter pilot. That’s what I thought I really wanted to do. 

But then it all changed. Before I had turned 18, my mom had seen this ad in the paper looking for native actors and models. Now, I had no experience in acting up to this point—other than playing Santa Claus in grade two.  And I thought, you know what, life is full of challenges and chapters, and I had heard “no” so many times as a kid growing up so if they didn’t want me it wouldn’t make a difference. So I decided to take the chance.  

How much later was it before you started getting called in for auditions? 

Almost immediately. After they told me to come on down for an audition, right away I got called back. After my second audition, I was offered an acting scholarship. When my classes were over, I immediately landed my first part in the Diviners  by Margaret Lawrence, playing Tom Jackson’s younger version in that show. It was a movie of the week. Right after that, I did Medicine River, a book Thomas King wrote. Two and half weeks after I did these two movies back to back, I was already auditioning for a TV series. It was amazing.  

This was North of 60,  wasn’t it? 

Yes, it was. I was 18 years old when I auditioned for Teevee Tenia on North of 60.  Here’s a kid who grew up on the street, lived in the inner city, put up with all the obstacles, and peer pressure and discrimination—all of it.  Even my teachers in school would have voted me ‘most likely to fail.’ I mean, all odds were against me—and here I was.  

Since we’re on the subject, what kind of kid were you in school? 

I wasn’t any worse than any other kid, the only difference—I was Aboriginal. Sure, I had a lot of energy. But when my homework wasn’t done, I wasn’t held in to do my homework during recess or after school to finish it. They just expected me to fail. My teachers didn’t work with me at all. Okay, whatever. But when I noticed all the white kids who didn’t finish their homework were asked to stay in to complete it, I thought, ‘what’s going on here? Why aren’t my teachers helping me ?” 

I mean, my reading skills weren’t the greatest, but the teachers didn’t expect any better. So what did I do?  I went home and started practicing by reading Archie  comics aloud to myself over and over again. And I read and improved and improved so much that by the first time I auditioned, my skills were so good I immediately got a call back, and was told that my reading was better than everyone else’s.  

By age 18, you were cast as Tee Vee Tenia. What were the effects of early fame? 

Like all trouble, it’s a test of what we go through. If everything was handed to us on a silver platter, we wouldn’t have the respect for what we have. Here’s a kid who grew up in the inner city; I was poor, I was Aboriginal and not much was expected of me. My allowance was  25 or 50 cents. I’m going from that to working on a TV series making thousands and thousands of dollars each week. Yeah, I was living large. I was spending it as fast as I could make it.  

At the same time, it was scarier than hell to be where I was. All of a sudden, newspapers wanted to do interviews, communities wanted me to make appearances. I was on a pedestal. It was definitely frightening to be where I was. It got to the point that by my second year I was almost ready to quit; it was just too much.

It was overwhelming; It had gotten to the point that Dakota House was becoming a household name. (Laughs) People would come up to me and talk to me and cameras would be flashing, and I thought, ‘holy cow this is for ME?’ The media also made me look like I was a woman beater. (In reference to a domestic violence charge in a previous relationship.)  Like I was a really bad dude, which is sooo far from the truth. It’s unfortunate that people don’t know the truth of the situation and what really happened, which is the opposite of what the media said it was.   

When was it when you started becoming more comfortable being Dakota House, the celebrity?

After I told my agent at the end of the second year of North of 60  I was going to quit, he told me to think about it and let him know what’s going on. I went out and a couple of hours later I called him back and told him to forget it and asked, when’s my next gig? But really, it’s only been the past three to five years that I’ve been comfortable being who I am.  

As you know, I started a youth society organization called Going M.I.L.E.S. And “MILES” is the acronym for Motivate, Inspire, Lead, Empower, Succeed. I travel extensively throughout North America providing workshops self expression using arts as the medium. I’ve brought my friends to work with me in this and I believe it’s making a difference in the lives of the youth we reach. 

We travel all over North America. It’s empowering our youth develop the tools to make the right choices in their lives. Really a lot of bonding and breaking down barriers and being able to watch them develop is the most gratifying thing I do. I mean, being able to utilize my talent and abilities and give back a lot really makes a difference in the next generation. By the end of the third day of the workshops, we’ve really bonded; to the kids I’ve become a brother from another mother.  

So it’s really been the past few years that I’ve been comfortable with who I am, and that’s because I’m using my talents to give back to the youth. It really makes a difference in the next generation.  

Is it fair that Native actors are expected to “give back,” as you describe it, to be a role model? 

This is the journey the Creator has put me on. In my professional career as an actor, in all the shows that I’ve done, they’ve been a vehicle to put me on this path. Don’t get me wrong—I love what I do as an actor but it’s the work I do with the youth that is my journey. I’m really embracing it now.  

As for the other actors and whether or not they give back? I don’t know; maybe they’re not ready, maybe it’s not in their path. For me? I’m a single father raising my kids and it’s definitely something I feel very good and privileged and proud to be able to do. To know that I’ve made a difference in empowering our youth; helping them succeed.  

You’re a single dad, raising your kids as well as developing your career. How’s that going for you? 

I have four kids—three girls and a son. My oldest daughter is 14. People look at me and see how young I look and think I had her when I was ten. ((laughs) it’s a blessing and a curse, looking so young. I audition for characters my age (32) but they tell me that I look way too young. My middle daughter is 11; and my youngest daughter is nine. My son has just turned two. They’re great kids. 

I’m very fortunate to have my mom who watches the kids when I’m working. Otherwise, I have them all the time with me.  

Tell us some more about what you’re doing currently with Going M.I.L.E.S.

Just this past year I registered and incorporated it, and I wrote up the mission and what our focus is on. I put together Going M.I.L.E.S. a couple of years ago, and asked my friends to work with me when they have the time. I’m going out to Quebec to do a presentation next week, actually.     

In the past 18 months, your filmed Paul Rickard’s The Winter Chill and the CBC production, One Dead Indian.  Both roles enabled you to display characters beyond Tee Vee Tenia. And, I will argue, both roles showed your naturalness in front of the camera.  Do you have a specific role to date that you are proudest of? 

I think it would have to be Dudley George in One Dead Indian  because he was a real person. I figured I did him justice. I did a little research about him to learn who he was and what happened.  

What other projects are you working on currently? 

I’m writing a feature right now, and hopefully it will be finished soon and I can start shooting it. Of course, NCTV (Native Comedy Television)  we are still working on. Hopefully, that is also going to be picked up. We have enough material for another show, we just need to put it together and get it out there.  

Weren’t APTN and CBC both interested in this comedy pilot? 

Yeah, both showed some interest. That’s why I’m going to be submitting it again and see if they’re still interested in the idea and the concept. Let’s make some stuff happening here!  

Would the show continue to include you and Nathaniel? 

It’s a platform for young artists, while also showcasing our talents. That is one of my motivations for making this show. To open doors for youth. As far as the hosts go, who knows?…Nathaniel may get busy, so we may add guest hosts to fill in when he’s not available.  

Hey, I should let you finish eating. And your kids have been great. But before we go, is there anything else you’d like people to know about you? 

Yeah, there is one thing. I’m drug and alcohol free. It’s been about two years, but I think it’s important for people to know that. Cause when people hear my name they remember how I was when I was 18, 19, 20 years-old and partied a lot and making thousands of dollars a week and living large.

Sure, I partied a lot. So when people hear my name, they think, ‘Yeah—Dakota, he’s a MAJOR party animal.’ I want everybody to know that I’m not that way anymore. Not at all. 

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Going M.I.L.E.S. Website: www.goingmiles.com       

Link to a Video Clip from the comedy pilot, NCTV, starring Dakota House and Nathaniel Arcand. Produced by SGWE Productions: PORCH CAT SKIT: NCTV