Gord Hill facts for kids

Gord Hill, born in 1968, is an artist, author, and activist. He is a member of the Kwakwaka'wakw nation, an Indigenous group from the Pacific Northwest Coast. Since 1988, he has worked to support and speak up for Indigenous people. He has taken part in many protests and movements to help their cause. Gord Hill lives in Downtown Eastside, Vancouver, British Columbia.

He is most known for his graphic novels. These books use pictures and words to tell stories about important topics. His comics often focus on Indigenous rights, fighting against unfair systems, and standing up to hate.

Standing Up for Rights

Gord Hill has been involved in political activism since the 1990s. He has supported many important movements for Indigenous people. He showed solidarity with groups like the Indigenous People's Movement. He also supported events like the Oka Crisis and the Gustafsen Lake standoff. These were times when Indigenous communities stood up for their land and rights.

He also took part in protests against the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. These protests aimed to raise awareness about the impact on Indigenous lands and communities. In a 2017 interview, he was described as an anarchist, meaning he believes in a society without a ruling government.

Gord Hill also writes a blog called Warrior Publications under the name Zig Zag. On this blog, he shares information about protests and acts of resistance by Indigenous peoples around the world.

The 500 Years of Resistance Comic Book

Gord Hill's first book was "The 500 Years of Resistance Comic Book." It was based on an essay he wrote in 1992. The book was re-released in 2020. It includes an introduction by another activist, Ward Churchill.

In this comic book, Gord Hill uses an easy-to-understand comic format. He tells the story of Indigenous resistance in the Americas. The story begins with the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492. It continues up to 2006, covering events like the Grand River land dispute. The book highlights well-known conflicts between settlers and Indigenous peoples. It also shares stories that are not often taught in schools.

Many experts and teachers have praised the book. In 2017, Gord Hill was invited to speak about his book at Acadia University. He explained the cover art, which shows the Battle of Sitka from 1802. In this battle, the Tlingit people successfully fought against the Russians. During his talk, Hill also mentioned artists who inspired him. One was Art Wilson, a Gitxsan artist from British Columbia. Wilson's 1996 book, Heartbeat of the Earth, focused on struggles over logging and fishing rights in Canada.

Academic journals have also written positively about "500 Years of Resistance." They like how the book uses the comic format to teach history. They also appreciate the unique perspective Gord Hill brings as an Indigenous artist. The CBC, a Canadian media company, listed the updated re-release of the comic book as one of "21 Canadian comics to watch for." This new version includes an introduction by Pamela Palmater, a Canadian/Miꞌkmaq lawyer and professor.

Other Comic Books

In 2012, Gord Hill released "The Anti-Capitalist Resistance Comic Book." This book explores ideas about fighting against systems where money and power are unfairly distributed.

Later, in 2018, he published "The Antifa Comic Book." His publisher asked him to create this book after the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. This book focuses on anti-fascism, which means standing against groups that promote hate and extreme nationalism.

See also

• Gord Hill's statement on the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver – featured on Balaclava!, a newspaper by the Vancouver Media Co-op: [1]
• Archived version of no2010.com, a site documenting the movement against the 2010 Winter Games, maintained by Gord Hill