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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">September 14, 2004 <i>(11:55 a.m. EDT)</i> No. 105</span></span></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">CANADA PRESENTS MAJOR WORK OF ART TO SMITHSONIAN</span></span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew announced today that Canada will present a
major Canadian Aboriginal work of art on September 17 to the Smithsonian Institution’s
National Museum of the American Indian, located in Washington, D.C. Depicted in a
two-metre-high red cedar sculpture, <i>The Beaver and the Mink</i> is by accomplished
British Columbia artist Susan Point. Her work was chosen by a panel of Canadian
Aboriginal art professionals.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“I am delighted and proud to be presenting this exceptional work to the Smithsonian on
behalf of all Canadians,” said Minister Pettigrew. “Canada and the United States share
many unique Aboriginal cultures, and this gift will bear witness to those ties.”</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Located on the museum’s main floor, Susan Point’s creation is a contemporary yet
deeply traditional piece handmade of natural and traditional materials that are
synonymous with the people of Canada’s northwest coast. She found her inspiration for
the artwork in the traditional Coast Salish legend of <i>The Beaver and the Mink</i>, who are
said to be responsible for bringing salmon to the rivers.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Minister Pettigrew emphasized the importance of promoting and encouraging the many
positive contributions Canadian Aboriginal cultures make to the Americas. “This
sculpture showcases Canadian Aboriginal culture at this extraordinary museum, which
promises to be one of the leading cultural destinations in the world,” he added.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The Aboriginal-inspired landscaping around the museum also features many Canadian
components, including the Grandfather Rocks, forty large, uncarved boulders selected
from a quarry in Alma, Quebec, in September 2002 to welcome visitors to the museum
grounds. There are also four cardinal direction markers, which are a metaphor for all of
the Indigenous peoples of the Western hemisphere. The stone marking north, from
Canada’s Acasta Lake in the Northwest Territories, is one of the oldest known stones
on earth.</span></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">- 30 -</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><br>For further information, media representatives may contact:</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Sébastien Théberge<br>
Director of Communications<br>
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs<br>
(613) 995-1851</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Media Relations Office<br>
Foreign Affairs Canada and International Trade Canada<br>
(613) 995-1874<br>
</span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221044450/http://www.international.gc.ca/"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.international.gc.ca</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000"></span></span></span></p>
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