Adam Beach: Hollywood celebrity at home in small-town Ontario

Beach's own childhood was less than idyllic. Born on the Dog Creek Indian Reservation in Manitoba, Beach lost his parents in separate tragic accidents when he was eight. The young lad and his brothers were sent to live with relatives in Winnipeg.

A few years later, in high school drama classes, Beach realized he had a talent for acting. He began performing in local theatre, and at age 18 won a role in a television miniseries, Lost in the Barrens. In subsequent years, his theatre work continued while he performed guest roles on TV shows like Walker, Texas Ranger and Touched by an Angel.

Becoming a regular member of the cast of North of 60 made Beach a familiar face in living rooms across the country. Soon, Hollywood began to notice the young actor's obvious talent, and Beach's movie career began.

But his roots on the reservation hold fast to this rising star. Beach is involved with the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, acting as host of their annual awards ceremony for the performing arts. Keenly aware that there are few aboriginal actors in the market, Beach says that he would like to see more opportunities for young natives with an interest in acting. "It's time for the stories of Indians to be told by their own people," he says.

Beach returned to Dog Creek and ran for Chief a while back but, as his wife points out, it may be that he has a stronger voice for his people on the outside of the reservation, in his public life as a celebrity. For now, Beach knows where home is. It's a little piece of heaven 30 minutes south of Ottawa.

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