Expressions of the Spirit

The Canadian Museum of Civilization

In Canada's diverse natural environments, a variety of cultures have arisen throughout history. Around 200 archaeological artifacts that are prized by the Canadian Museum of Civilization, from stoneware and earthenware to beautiful garments and ceremonial masks, will be exhibited for the first time in Japan. Visitors will be able to enjoy the expressive power and aesthetic sensitivity that reflect the world view of these indigenous peoples.

This traveling exhibition of the Canadian Museum of Civilization divides Canada into four cultural regions, and displays representative artifacts from each.

Culture of the Indigenous Peoples of the Great Plains

The Bison People (artifacts such as beaded moccasins, harnesses, and clothing are on display)

A child's pair of moccasins from the indigenous people of the Plains
(The Canadian Museum of Civilization Collection)

Culture of the Indigenous Peoples of the Eastern Woodlands

Agriculturalists living around the Great Lakes (artifacts include pendants, knives, earthenware, pipes, canoes, and clothing)

 

Iroquois pipe, from the indigenous people of the Great Lakes area, 500-600 years old (The Canadian Museum of Civilization Collection)

Small talisman in the shape of a carved turtle figurine from the indigenous people of the Great Lakes area, excavated in Ottawa Valley (The Canadian Museum of Civilization Collection)

Culture of the Indigenous Peoples of the Northwest Coast:

The Salmon and Potlatch Peoples (artifacts include head ornaments, wooden boxes, blankets, knives, spoons, masks, rattles, and fishhooks)

 

Head ornament from the indigenous people of the Northwest Coast (The Canadian Museum of Civilization Collection)

Spoon from the indigenous people of the Northwest Coast, made from the horn of a bighorn sheep and carved in the shape of a raven (The Canadian Museum of Civilization Collection)

Wooden box from the indigenous people of the Northwest Coast (The Canadian Museum of Civilization Collection)

Culture of the Indigenous Peoples of the Far North and Sub Polar Regions:

Hunters in the Far North (artifacts include carvings of walrus ivory, snow-goggles, clothing, boots, and hunting tools)

 

Inuit snow-goggles carved from a walrus tusk (The Canadian Museum of Civilization Collection)

Inuit fishing-float made of sealskin (The Canadian Museum of Civilization Collection)

Inuit woman's upper garment decorated with beads (The Canadian Museum of Civilization Collection)

The Artistic World of the Inuit

Along with prints, which the Inuit have been producing since the late 1950s, the exhibition will feature stone carvings, hunting tools and other items. Inuit prints came to be produced after the printing techniques and systems used for Japan's ukiyoe prints were introduced into their communities.