Gil Cardinal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gil Cardinal
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| Born |
Gilbert Joseph Cardinal
July 19, 1950 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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| Died | November 21, 2015 (aged 65) Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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| Nationality | Canadian |
| Alma mater | Northern Alberta Institute of Technology |
| Occupation | filmmaker |
| Years active | 1970s–2015 |
Gilbert Joseph "Gil" Cardinal (July 19, 1950 – November 21, 2015) was a Canadian filmmaker. He was known for telling important stories. Gil was of Métis descent. The Métis are a group of Indigenous people in Canada.
Gil was born in Edmonton in 1950. When he was two, he went to live in a foster home. He later learned about his Métis heritage. This happened while he was making his film Foster Child. This documentary was released in 1987. It won over 10 international film awards. He also won a Gemini Award for best direction. The film was shown on CBC's Man Alive series.
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Gil Cardinal's Early Career
Gil Cardinal studied radio and TV arts. He graduated from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in 1971. After school, he worked as a cameraman. He was at Alberta's Access network. There, he made his first film. It was a documentary about a pianist named Mark Jablonski.
In 1975, he became a director. He also worked as an associate producer for a TV series. He created Shadow Puppets: Indian Myths and Legends. This was a series about Cree and Blackfoot legends.
Working with the National Film Board
In 1980, Gil Cardinal left Access. He started working with the National Film Board of Canada (NFB). He worked as a director, writer, and editor. He made several short films. One notable film was Hotwalker (1985).
After that, he made Foster Child. In 1987, Cardinal directed Keyanaw Tatuskhatamak. This film was about Indigenous self-government. It focused on the struggle in northern Alberta.
Later Works and Awards
In 1998, Gil directed the CBC miniseries Big Bear. A miniseries is a TV show with a limited number of episodes. He was nominated for a second Gemini Award for this work. In 2006, he made the CBC drama Indian Summer: The Oka Crisis. This film was about the 1990 Oka Crisis.
Cardinal also directed many episodes of popular TV shows. These included North of 60 and The Rez. He also directed an episode of Four Directions.
He made two NFB documentaries. These films were about the Haisla Nation. The Haisla Nation worked to get back their g'psgolox pole. This special pole was taken from them in 1929. His 2003 film, Totem: The Return of the G’psgolox Pole, was shown at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Awards and Legacy
In 1997, Gil Cardinal received a special award. It was the National Aboriginal Achievement Award. This award is now called the Indspire Awards. It recognized his work in Film and Television.
In 2015, he received the David Billington Award. This award honors people who contribute to Alberta's film industry. Gil was too ill to attend the ceremony. So, he received the award privately.
His friends created the Gil Cardinal Legacy Fund. This fund helps new Indigenous filmmakers. It gives them money to start their careers. Gil Cardinal passed away on November 21, 2015. He was 65 years old. He had been facing serious health issues.
