First Peoples of Canada:Masterworks from the Canadian Museum of Civilization

Description

First Peoples of Canada offers readers a rare opportunity to experience a celebrated exhibition that has toured the world| yet has never been shown in Canada. This beautifully designed| full-colour book presents a collection of 150 archaeological and ethnographic objects produced by Canada’s First Peoples – including some that are roughly 12|000 years old – that represent spectacular expressions of creativity and ingenuity.

Curators Jean-Luc Pilon and Nicholette Prince sought out pieces held by the Canadian Museum of Civilization that could be considered “masterworks” based on their aesthetic qualities| symbolic value| or the skills and raw materials used in manufacturing them. These unique and priceless artifacts embody the rich diversity of skills and materials used by Canadian Inuit| First Nations| and Metis in both ancient and modern times.

First Peoples of Canada is full of insights not only on the pieces themselves| but also on the cultures that produced them and the geography of this vast land. Readers will come away from this book with a renewed appreciation of the lifestyles and achievements of Canada’s original inhabitants.

This collection focuses on items made by people in four regions across Canada: the farmers of the Great Lakes| the hunters and warriors of the Great Plains| the wealthy Salmon People of costal British Columbia| and the people of Canada’s harshest environments| the Arctic and Boreal Forest.