11 Facts About Gil Cardinal

Gilbert Joseph "Gil" Cardinal was a Canadian filmmaker of Metis descent.

Gil Cardinal left Access in 1980 to work with the NFB as a freelance director, researcher, writer and editor.

Gil Cardinal shot a series of short documentaries and dramas, notably Hotwalker, before making Foster Child.

In 1987, Gil Cardinal made Keyanaw Tatuskhatamak, about the struggle for Native self-government in northern Alberta.

In 1998, he directed the CBC miniseries Big Bear, for which Gil Cardinal was nominated for a second Gemini.

Gil Cardinal directed numerous episodes of North of 60 and The Rez, and an episode of the drama anthology series Four Directions.

Gil Cardinal directed two NFB documentaries about the ultimately successful efforts of the Haisla Nation to repatriate their g'psgolox pole, a mortuary pole taken from them in 1929.

In 1997, Gil Cardinal was recognized with a National Aboriginal Achievement Award, now the Indspire Awards, for Film and Television.

Too ill to attend, Gil Cardinal had been presented with the award at a private ceremony.

Gil Cardinal died of cirrhosis on November 21,2015, in Edmonton at the age of 65.

Gil Cardinal had been hospitalized in his final months as he experienced a serious health decline complicated by diabetes.