Three New Exhibitions at the Canadian Museum of Civilization Celebrate Wisdom and Artistic Power of Aboriginal Cultures
Hull, Quebec, April 11, 1997 — Three remarkable exhibitions that explore the enduring wisdom and superb art forms of Aboriginal cultures open this April in the First Peoples Hall at the Canadian Museum of Civilization (CMC).
The First Peoples Hall is in effect a museum within a museum. Its immense interior and fluid lines are the creation of internationally renowned architect Douglas Cardinal who designed the Canadian Museum of Civilization. The First Peoples Hall is therefore an ideal venue for celebrating Aboriginal peoples' richly diverse traditions and their continuing contributions to our modern-day world.
The three exhibitions, opening April 18 and April 25, highlight some of the many perspectives and unique voices of First Peoples in Canada. Visitors will be able to experience the wondrous spirit world of the Western Arctic through 62 sculptures by David Ruben Piqtoukun. An artist who has an almost mystical rapport with his medium, Piqtoukun draws life from a wide range of stone, including Italian crystal alabaster and African wonderstone. In addition to exploring shamanic themes, Piqtoukun examines the disruptive impact of non-Aboriginal influences on his traditional culture. Between Two Worlds: Sculpture by David Ruben Piqtoukun opens April 18, and comes to the CMC courtesy of the Winnipeg Art Gallery.
The strength and determination of Aboriginal women who have fought to improve the lives of their own families and communities are movingly depicted in an exhibition of photographic portraits opening April 25. Wathahine: Photographs of Aboriginal Women by Nancy Ackerman combines compelling portraiture with the words of the women themselves - elders, artists, teachers and activists from Aboriginal communities across the country. Ackerman, who is of Mohawk descent, undertook her photographic project as a personal and professional quest. The exhibition comes to the CMC courtesy of the McCord Museum of Canadian History.
Six Aboriginal Interns from the CMC's Aboriginal Training Program in Museum Practices have created a powerful exhibition focusing on their interpretation of the storytelling traditions of their particular communities, using selected artifacts from the CMC's collection that are intimately tied to those traditions. The exhibition shows how the oral tradition teaches and entertains us, and highlights the individual differences of the storytelling traditions of six Nations — the Algonquin, the Mi'kmaq, the Abenaki, the Inuvialuit, the Cree-Métis and the Nisga'a. Storytelling: the Art of Knowledge opens April 25 in the First Peoples Hall.
The CMC is developing the First Peoples Hall in consultation with communities of First Peoples and cultural organizations. Since 1992, an advisory committee has worked closely with the CMC on the approach and contents of the First Peoples Hall.
Information (media):
Media Relations Officer: (819) 776-7169
Senior Media Relations Officer: (819) 776-7167
Fax: (819) 776-7187
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