International Exhibition of Aboriginal masterworks begins a three-continent tour

International Exhibition of Aboriginal masterworks begins a three-continent tour

Gatineau, Quebec, April 14, 2009 — The finest collection of Canadian Aboriginal artifacts ever to tour internationally is embarking on a three-continent journey to Germany, Japan and Mexico. First Peoples of Canada: Masterworks from the Canadian Museum of Civilization features 150 prized objects from the Museum’s exceptional collections. The exhibition highlights for an international audience the diversity, continuity and creativity of Canada’s First Peoples from earliest times to the present day. 

An earlier version of the exhibition was first presented in Beijing, China, during the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. A new international tour will begin April 24, 2009 at the Niedersächsischen Landesmuseum (Lower Saxony State Museum) in Hannover, Germany. It will open in September 2009 at Japan’s National Museum of Ethnology (Minpaku) in Osaka, and in early 2010 at the Museo Nacional de las Culturas in Mexico City.

“We are proud to present to the world this powerful introduction to the historic and contemporary cultures of Canada’s Aboriginal peoples,” said Dr. Victor Rabinovitch, President and CEO of the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation. “The exhibition will inform new audiences about the continuing strength of Canada’s Aboriginal cultures, and the First Peoples’ enduring relationship to the land. Our lead curators for this exhibition, Nicholette Prince and Jean-Luc Pilon, have done a remarkable service in selecting artifacts and preparing explanations that describe a vital part of Canada’s living history.”

The artifacts in First Peoples of Canada are remarkably varied in age, style, materials and purpose. The oldest is a stone projectile point that is more than 10,000 years old and the most recent is an exquisite fur dance-parka, hand sewn in 2002–2003. Other artifacts range from feathered headdresses to ceramic pots, ivory snow-goggles to silver spoons, copper knives to a birchbark canoe. They represent Aboriginal cultures from across Canada, notably the West Coast, the Prairies, the Great Lakes Region and the Far North.

First Peoples of Canada: Masterworks from the Canadian Museum of Civilizationwas developed by the Canadian Museum of Civilization, Gatineau-Ottawa.

The Canadian Museum of Civilization is Canada’s national museum of human history and the most visited museum in the country. It is home to the world’s largest collection of Canadian Aboriginal artifacts. It presents landmark exhibitions on the history, cultures and contributions of Canadians. Together with the Canadian War Museum (Canada’s national museum of military history), the Museum of Civilization’s principal role is to preserve and promote national heritage for future generations, thereby strengthening mutual understanding and identity.

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