Jimmy Herman (October 25, 1940 – September 13, 2013) was anIndigenous Canadian actor who appeared in several films, includingDances with Wolves.^[1][2]

He was born on theCold Lake Reserve inAlberta, Canada. His ancestors wereChipewyan andDene. Herman moved toEdmonton in 1980 to study atGrant MacEwan College's Native Communications Program. There, he received the Malcolm Calliou Award for his ambition to succeed, and to inspire other Aboriginal people to do the same. After his graduation from Grant MacEwan, he accepted employment with Native Counseling Services of Alberta as a media assistant in the media department. During this time, he did some narration work for Native Counseling Services, ACCESS radio, and the National Film Board.

A small part in a CBC Television pilot program calledJohn Cat, based on aW. P. Kinsella book, sparked Herman's interest in acting, and he decided to leave his position at Native Counseling Services to pursue a career in the performing arts. In April 1989, aLos Angeles casting agent chose him for a part inDances With Wolves. His role in the film was aSioux warrior named Stone Calf.

He went on to perform numerous roles in feature films and television series in Canada and the United States, including an extra in the Academy Award-winningWesternUnforgiven, the television filmCrazy Horse,^[3]The X-Files, and a six-year stint onCBC'sNorth of 60, portraying fur trapper Joe Gomba. In 2005, the Dreamspeakers Film Festival Society in Edmonton honoured him with a place on the Aboriginal Walk of Fame.

Herman spoke to Aboriginal youth in schools and at special events. He also turned towards political activism, seeking diplomatic solutions and bringing his voice to the debate surrounding Aboriginal treaty rights. Herman worked to better Treaty 6 communities.^{[citation needed]}

• Jimmy Herman atIMDb