Former Dances With Wolves actor Nathan Chasing Horse received a life sentence in the United States for using his position as a self-described medicine man to prey on Indigenous women and children, while Canadian charges on similar grounds remain outstanding.
Chasing Horse, also known as Nathan Lee Chasing His Horse, 49, was convicted by a jury in Nevada on Jan. 30, 2026, of 13 charges of the 21 sworn against him in that state.
The charges include multiple sexual assaults of multiple women, with some of the charges involving them when they were still minors.
On April 27, he received a life sentence in prison, with no eligibility for parole for 37 years.
The conviction is not the end of the allegations against Chasing Horse. The Fort Peck Reservation in Montana has banned him from the territory, and he has also been banned from the Tsuut’ina Nation in Alberta, where a warrant has been issued for his arrest on multiple charges of sexual exploitation and sexual assault. He is also facing one charge of sexual assault in Keremeos.
The Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service in Alberta issued a news release following the conviction, stating that they are monitoring the situation and that the warrant for Chasing Horse’s arrest remains active.
“This verdict is a significant step toward justice for the survivors and a testament to their courage,” the Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service said. “We wish to recognize and commend all of the survivors who have come forward, as well as those who continue to do so. Your bravery in sharing your stories is vital in holding individuals accountable and ensuring the safety of our communities.”
The release stated that the Police Service is in contact with the Alberta Crown Prosecutors’ Office regarding the outstanding warrant.
The Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service has so far not released any statement following the sentencing.
Chasing Horse’s charge of a 2018 sexual assault in Keremeos was stayed in 2023, as the proceedings continued in the U.S.
The B.C. prosecution recommenced in Penticton Provincial Court in October of 2024, five days after his charges in Nevada were refiled following their initial dismissal by the courts.
Communication for the B.C. Crown Prosecution Service previously stated that the future steps would depend on the sentence Chasing Horse received in the U.S. and the conclusion of any appeals.
In the decades since starring in the Oscar-winning movie, authorities say he built a reputation as a self-proclaimed medicine man among tribes and travelled around North America to perform healing ceremonies, while using that position to exploit vulnerable girls and young women, as well as establishing his own cult called The Circle.