The First Peoples of Canada - presenting the history and continuing presence of Aboriginal people in Canada

WelcomeAn Aboriginal PresenceAn Ancient Bond with the LandArrival of Strangers - The Last 500 Years

This virtual exhibition looks at some facets of the history of Canada's Aboriginal peoples, underlining their fight for cultural survival and indicating the wealth of their modern-day contributions. It is based largely on information and artifacts presented in the First Peoples Hall of the Canadian Museum of Civilization. Neither pretends to be a comprehensive presentation of the history of all the Native groups in Canada. Rather, aspects of cultural identity are explored through four themes: the diversity of Aboriginal cultural expression; how the Aboriginal presence manifests itself within present-day Canada; the adaptation of traditional lifestyles to different environments across Canada; and the impact of the arrival and settlement of Europeans over the last 500 years.

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Photos, left to right:

  • Children, Courtesy of The North West Company
  • Man and child, photograph by Fred Cattroll, © Fred Cattroll
  • Elder, photograph by Judy Thompson, Canadian Museum of Civilization
  • Pilot, photograph by Fred Cattroll, © Fred Cattroll


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