The North

Picking up where we left off, here we have clothing and artifacts typical of Inuit people from time immemorial. While some might be older, many of these are relatively contemporary, but made with regard to the same cultural influences passed down for generations. This part of the Arctic Gallery really shows the collaboration done with indigenous peoples of the north to create this space. Many of the panels are less third-person and more 'our story' in emphasis.

Two display cases, side by side. The items at top left are plastic toys created in the current era to help children learn about fishing through play. The boots, purse, and tool bag are contemporary as well, but done in the same way as has been done for thousands of years, using materials like fish skin, seal skin, and caribou sinew. The tool bag makes use of the better part of a fish skin for carrying tools needed, and these items were created to show these old ways.

The items in this case are a century old, used as tools for fishing- the rod, the lure, the stringer, or an item called a leister, used to spear fish in rivers or from the sea ice. Materials used in items like this include wood, caribou bone or sinew, sealskin, or copper.

This copper sample was collected by the Canadian Arctic Expedition. Indigenous peoples of the far north were making use of copper for thousands of years in their every day life.

Emerging from the exhibits, one comes into an area with a video screen that shows a wealth of images from the Canadian Arctic, both nature and people.