The recent arrest of actor Nathan Chasing Horse has shocked many in the Native American community. Known for his role as Smiles A Lot in the 1990 classic Dances With Wolves, Chasing Horse was taken into custody in Las Vegas on Tuesday after police raided his home in connection with accusations of sexual abuse spanning over two decades.
A SWAT team arrested Nathan Chasing Horse near his home in Las Vegas, where he lives with his five wives. He reportedly planned for his wives to take “suicide pills” and prepare for a shootout with police if/when they came for him. He was booked in the Clark County Jail for child abuse, sexual assault, sexual assault against a child, and sex trafficking of an adult.
The actor, who is now reportedly the leader of a cult known as The Circle, is accused of sexually assaulting young Indigenous girls, some as young as 13, according to police records obtained by the Associated Press. In addition, the department uncovered sexual allegations against the actor dating back to the early 2000s in multiple states, including Montana, South Dakota, and Nevada, where he has lived for almost 10 years.
Chasing’s reputation among tribes across America and Canada is known as a “medicine man.” Sadly, it appears that he used his position of power to prey on vulnerable young Native American girls, exploiting their belief in his spiritual authority.
“Nathan Chasing Horse used spiritual traditions and their belief system as a tool to sexually assault young girls on numerous occasions,” the warrant read. It continued to state that his followers believed he could communicate with higher beings and referred to him as “Medicine Man” or “Holy Person.”
The case against the actor is especially troubling, as Native American women and girls are often victims of violence and exploitation yet are rarely held accountable for the perpetrators. This is especially true for those living on reservations or in isolated rural areas, where justice is often elusive.
