The collections at Quebec's Musées de la Civilisation are rich and diversified. This book presents more than 150 objects attributed to indigenous Peoples, mainly from North America but also from the Amazon region and from Oceania.

Epigraph -- Foreword -- Preface -- Part I. A national collection built over years -- Many beginnings or the long story of the First Peoples Collection at the Musée de la civilisation -- A look back at the origins of the Inuit Collection at the Musée de la civilisation de Québec -- The encounter between Europeans and aboriginals: a world of exchange with objects as evidence -- Aboriginal and Inuit collections in France -- Part II. The Musées de la civilisation working closely with the nations -- Aboriginal peoples and museums: twenty-five years of relations with the Musées de la civilisation -- Respect and responsibility: law, ethics, and indigenous collections -- Traditional meaning of gift giving -- Part III. Collections and exhibitions, a vital link -- L'CEil amérindien. Regards sur l'animal: an essential exhibition! -- Museum research notes -- Part IV. The expanding perspective of indigenous collections -- Beaded flowers on the plain: the art of the western Métis -- Peuples des eaux, gens des îles. L'OCÉANIE: Windfalls from a great voyage -- The Amazonian collection of Dr. Aldo Lo Curto -- Part V. The National Collection, a venue for learning and disseminating -- From the skins of birds: a technological study of the Belcher Islands eider-skin coat -- Exchanging and sharing knowledge: the museum, research, and aboriginals -- Inclusion of first peoples in exhibition projects -- Bibliography -- Contributors -- Photo credits -- List of donors -- Index -- Ethnonyms.