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Gil Cardinal (6)
Gil Cardinal
Born to a Métis mother and raised by a non-Indigenous foster family, the late Gil Cardinal was a groundbreaking filmmaker who embodied the complicated history of Canada’s Indigenous Peoples. His body of work includes NFB releases like The Spirit Withinand David with F.A.S., along with big-budget TV projects like Indian Summer: The Oka Crisis. “Gil made it possible for us to think about putting our own stories on the screen—and that was something new and important,” says Jesse Wente, Director of Canada’s Indigenous Screen Office. Cardinal’s autobiographical Foster Child (1987) is considered a landmark of Indigenous cinema.
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Children of AlcoholGil Cardinal 1984 18 minThis short documentary focuses on the children of alcoholics. In the relaxed environment of a mountain campsite, a group of young people discuss their anger and frustration, and talk about their struggle to cope with the problems created by their parents' drinking. By sharing their experiences, they open a door for others like them. Aimed primarily at an audience of elementary school children and older, this film provides an excellent vehicle for generating discussion about alcohol abuse and the family. -
Totem: The Return of the G'psgolox PoleGil Cardinal 2003 1 h 10 minThis feature-length documentary traces the journey of the Haisla people to reclaim the G'psgolox totem pole that went missing from their British Columbia village in 1929. The fate of the 19th century traditional mortuary pole remained unknown for over 60 years until it was discovered in a Stockholm museum where it is considered state property by the Swedish government. Director Gil Cardinal combines interviews, striking imagery and rare footage of master carvers to raise questions about ownership and the meaning of Indigenous objects held in museums.
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Totem: Return and RenewalGil Cardinal 2007 23 minIn this follow-up to his 2003 film, Totem: the Return of the G'psgolox Pole, filmmaker Gil Cardinal documents the events of the final journey of the G'psgolox Pole as it returns home to Kitamaat and the Haisla people, from where it went missing in 1929.
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Discussions in Bioethics: The Courage of One's ConvictionsGil Cardinal 1985 14 minIn this short film, a 17-year-old girl refuses medical treatment that will prolong her life due to religious convictions. Her decision remains firm despite the pleas of her physician, who begins to question who has the right to determine a person's life or death. This short film is one of a series of short, open-ended dramas designed to stimulate discussion of values and ethics in relation to modern technology.
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Foster ChildGil Cardinal 1987 43 minAn important figure in the history of Canadian Indigenous filmmaking, Gil Cardinal was born to a Métis mother but raised by a non-Indigenous foster family, and with this auto-biographical documentary he charts his efforts to find his biological mother and to understand why he was removed from her. Considered a milestone in documentary cinema, it addressed the country’s internal colonialism in a profoundly personal manner, winning a Special Jury Prize at Banff and multiple international awards. “Foster Child is one of the great docs to come out of Canada, and nobody but Gil could have made it,” says Jesse Wente, director of Canada’s Indigenous Screen Office. “Gil made it possible for us to think about putting our own stories on the screen, and that was something new and important.”
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The Spirit WithinGil Cardinal & Wil Campbell 1990 51 minThis documentary looks at various Indigenous spirituality programs that run in western Canadian federal penitentiaries, as well as in some provincial institutions. These programs are led by elders, with assistance from liaison officers. They include workshops, ceremonies, and other traditional methods that help put the incarcerated back in touch with themselves, their culture, and their spirituality. A unique glimpse of the lives of Indigenous inmates.
