Indian face garnishry
Tsimshian First Nation culture in North-west coast of
Huron machete
Beothuk adornment in
Satchel
turtle amulet of Iroquois
Whaler’s pail
Inuit baby backpack
Shoe and glove
On August 1st 2008, First Peoples of Canada: Masterworks from the Canadian Museum of Civilization opened in Beijing. This exhibition is organized by the Canadian Museum of Civilization (CMC) and the National Museum of China (NMC). Several Canadian and Chinese dignitaries attended the official opening ceremony, notably Mr. Robert Wright, Canadian Ambassador to China, Dr. Victor Rabinovitch, President and CEO of the CMC, Ms. Meng Xiaosi, Vice-Minister of Culture PRC, Mr. Pan Zhenzhou, former Vice-Minister of Culture PRC and former Director of the National Museum of China and Mr. Lv Zhangshen, President of the NMC.
It is reported that this Canadian First Peoples’ Masterworks Exhibition is the largest and most comprehensive exhibition of Aboriginal artifacts ever sent overseas by the CMC, and probably the finest exhibition of its kind ever presented in Asia. It is a unique opportunity for the Museum to showcase its national collection of Canadian Aboriginal material culture, and to inform an Asian audience about the long and varied histories of Canada’s First Peoples. The exhibition comprises 150 outstanding pieces chosen from the CMC’s unrivalled collections of Canadian Aboriginal artifacts by Ms. Nicholette Prince, Curator of Plateau Ethnology and Dr. Jean-Luc Pilon, Curator, Ontario Archaeology, at the Canadian Museum of Civilization. When making their selections, they were guided by the central themes explored in the Museum’s First Peoples Hall: We are diverse and We have an ancient relationship with the land. Some objects explain the survival skills of the Inuit and other Arctic inhabitants. Others are associated with the feasting cultures of the West Coast, the warriors of the Great Plains, or the agricultural peoples of the Great Lakes region. All were chosen for their historical and cultural significance.
Tickets for the exhibition cost 20RMB for adults and 10RMB for students. The Museum is open everyday（Aug.1-Oct.7, 2008）from 10.00 to 17.30 except Mondays. The Beijing Art Museum of Imperial City is located at n.9 Changpu He Yan, Nanchizi Dajie, Dongcheng District. (Tel. 010-8511 -5373).