The Vikings as you’ve never seen them at the Canadian Museum of Civilization

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Gatineau, Quebec, August 15, 2013 — A major international exhibition that challenges our assumptions about ancient Scandinavians, We Call Them Vikings (working title), will be presented at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in 2015.

The highly interactive exhibition draws on recent archaeological discoveries to explain who the Vikings really were, where they came from, and how they lived during what has become a mythical period in Scandinavia. It features almost 500 original artifacts — including jewelry, weapons and religious objects — from The Swedish History Museum that have until now rarely been shown outside of Scandinavia.

“We Call Them Vikings is an excellent example of the kinds of international exhibitions and partnerships the Canadian Museum of History will continue to pursue in the future,” says Mark O’Neill, President and CEO of the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation. “In addition to developing the largest, most comprehensive permanent exhibition on Canadian history, the Canadian Museum of History will continue to present exhibitions on topics of international historic significance, and to collaborate with partners worldwide to bring the world to Canada, and Canada to the world.”

We Call Them Vikings breaks through common stereotypes of bearded men with horns on their helmets to show Vikings in a more accurate and nuanced light. Different themes in the exhibition provide insights into domestic life, craftsmanship, trade, death rituals, the power of mythology and the symbolism of Viking ships.

The high-quality, artifact-rich exhibition is designed to have a wide, multigenerational appeal.

We Call Them Vikings will be presented at the Canadian Museum of Civilization from November 2015 to April 2016. The exhibition is a joint venture between and produced by The Swedish History Museum (Statens historiska museum) in Sweden and MuseumsPartner in Austria.

The Canadian Museum of Civilization is the centre for research and public information on the social and human history of the country. Located on the shores of the Ottawa River in Gatineau, Quebec, the Museum is Canada’s largest and most popular cultural institution, attracting over 1.2 million visitors each year. The Museum of Civilization’s principal role is to preserve and promote the heritage of Canada for present and future generations, thereby contributing to the promotion and enhancement of Canadian identity.

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