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.
Eric Schweig was born in Inuvik, Northwest Territory. From an Inuit lineage on his mother side, and German descent on his father side . he was adopted at the age of six months by a Caucasian (German-French) family . 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 foster home 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 (1990). Without any formal education or experience as an actor he won the role. The film launched his career in the film industry.
Amongst his numerous screen credits since then (more than thirty) Eric 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 film festival.
Amongst his period film credits since The Last of the Mohicans, Eric 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. As a disastrous consequence of this uprooting and manhandling, 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.
Schweig Currently resides in Winnipeg,Manitoba. He is currently working as a full time Resource Assistant for Youth, providing assistance to inner-city youth.
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)
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.
