Tom Vernon Hill, a member of the Seneca Nation from Six Nations, passed away on Saturday November 11, 2023.

Throughout his life he raised Indigenous art to international recognition by challenging the status quo in the 1960s and 70s. His efforts helped change attitudes towards Indigenous arts, helping perceptions to change to be seen as true mainstream contemporary art, not just as artifacts. Hill's legacy leaves big shoes to fill.

Because of his importance to the Six Nations and the greater Canadian community, CKRZ is featuring a three part series about Tom Hill to honour and celebrate his life. This is the second of the three parts.

On today's program:

Rick Hill is the Indigenous Innovation Specialist at Mohawk College. He is also working on a book with other historians exploring the history of the Mohawk Institute which became the Woodland Cultural Centre (WCC) after the former Residential School closed its doors in 1970.

Artist, Curator, Museologist Tom Hill  worked at the WCC for 23 years of his career and it was there that Rick Hill, worked closely with Tom Hill in the 1970s making art a daily part of people's lives.

Listen to the interview below.