The news of actor Nathan Chasing Horse’s arrest on Tuesday has shaken the Native American community, who have long looked up to him as a spiritual leader.
Chasing Horse, who played Smiles a Lot in the 1990 Oscar-winning movie Dances With Wolves, is accused of running a cult that sexually abused young indigenous girls.
The 46-year-old, who is from the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, gained a reputation among tribes across the United States and in Canada as a so-called medicine man who performed healing ceremonies and spiritual gatherings.
However, according to a 50-page search warrant obtained by the Associated Press, Chasing Horse is believed to be the leader of a cult known as The Circle, which is alleged to have used spiritual traditions and their belief system as a tool to sexually assault young on numerous occasions.
Police have identified at least six alleged victims and have uncovered sexual allegations against Chasing Horse dating to the early 2000s in multiple states.
The actor, who went on to star in four subsequent TV movies, was reportedly banished from the Fort Peck Reservation in Poplar, Montana, in 2018 amid allegations of human trafficking.
As a result of the investigation, Chasing Horse is facing charges of sex trafficking, sexual assault of a child younger than 16, and child abuse in Nevada’s Clark County. The warrant includes details of crimes reported elsewhere, and some of the alleged victims were as young as 13.
The news of Chasing Horse’s arrest has sent shockwaves throughout the Native American community. Many are now questioning how a man who was once respected for his spiritual leadership could be involved in such a heinous crime.
“Nathan Chasing Horse used spiritual traditions and their belief system as a tool to sexually assault young girls on numerous occasions,” the arrest 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.”
