U.S. Conviction Centers on Spiritual Exploitation (Image Credits: Pixabay)
A life sentence handed down in a Nevada courtroom this week has not resolved a separate sexual assault case against Nathan Chasing His Horse in British Columbia. The former actor, known for his role in the 1990 film Dances With Wolves, received the harsh U.S. penalty for crimes against Indigenous women and girls. Yet prosecutors in Penticton provincial court continue to pursue charges stemming from an alleged 2018 incident near Keremeos. The development underscores the parallel legal battles confronting the 49-year-old Lakota man from South Dakota.
U.S. Conviction Centers on Spiritual Exploitation
Nathan Chasing His Horse, who portrayed the young Sioux character Smiles-A-Lot in Kevin Costner’s Oscar-winning Western, stood trial in Nevada earlier this year. A jury convicted him in January on 13 counts involving three female victims. The abuses occurred under the pretense of spiritual healing ceremonies, a practice he promoted at powwows across North America.
The judge, before imposing the life term on Monday, highlighted how Chasing His Horse had exploited the victims’ trust in Indigenous spirituality for personal gain. Evidence presented showed he manipulated women and girls who sought his guidance. Chasing His Horse maintained his innocence throughout, labeling the verdict a miscarriage of justice. His initial arrest in the U.S. dated back to February 2023.
Allegations Trace Back to Teenage Victim in B.C.
The British Columbia case originated from an encounter in September 2018 near Keremeos. Court records indicate the complainant was 13 when her family sent her to stay with Chasing His Horse due to illness. She accompanied him to ceremonies, and the alleged sexual assault occurred when she turned 17.
Authorities in Canada learned of the report through contact with Las Vegas police, sparking a broader investigation. The RCMP charged Chasing His Horse in early February 2023, coinciding with his U.S. detention. Prosecutors later detailed how he fostered dependency among followers, including through cultural symbols like spider tattoos representing the Lakota trickster spirit Iktomi.
Charges Stayed Then Reactivated in Penticton
Progress in the B.C. matter stalled amid the American proceedings. Officials stayed the charges in November 2023, a procedural pause that typically leads to dismissal after one year. However, just 11 months later, on October 31, 2024, the prosecution recommenced the file in Penticton provincial court.
Ann Taylor, spokeswoman for the B.C. Prosecution Service, explained the strategy in an email statement: “Once Mr. Chasing Horse has been sentenced and any appeals exhausted in that jurisdiction, we will assess next steps in relation to the Penticton prosecution.” Warrants for his arrest were issued upon initial charging and again last October, though their current status remains unclear. The court registry confirmed the case’s active posture.
| Key Timeline | Date | Event |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Arrest | February 2023 | Charged with multiple sexual assaults |
| B.C. Charge | Early February 2023 | Sexual assault allegation from 2018 |
| Charges Stayed | November 2023 | Paused for U.S. proceedings |
| B.C. Reactivation | October 31, 2024 | File recommenced in Penticton |
| U.S. Sentencing | Monday (recent) | Life sentence imposed |
Bans and Additional Warrants Signal Broader Scrutiny
Chasing His Horse’s activities drew rebukes from Indigenous communities long before the convictions. The Tsuut’ina Nation in Alberta banned him in 2015 and holds an outstanding warrant. By 2023, dozens of Saskatchewan communities followed suit, citing safety concerns.
Reports described his personal life, including multiple wives – one as young as 15 from Alberta – and demands for loyalty oaths, such as “suicide pills” in case of his capture or death. U.S. prosecutors portrayed him as leveraging his film fame and healer persona to target vulnerable Indigenous women and girls, some as young as 14. One victim recounted threats that her mother’s cancer treatment hinged on her silence.
The persistence of the Penticton case raises questions about cross-border justice for such offenses. With appeals pending in Nevada, B.C. authorities await clarity before advancing. For the communities he once served, the saga serves as a stark reminder of authority misused within cultural traditions.
