The artists of the Canadian Arctic perpetuate traditions centuries old, translating into stone, bone, ivory and alter the worldview of the Inuit people at the same time as their personal, contemporary feelings. In their works symbolic elements vie for attention with everyday concerns. Family and social life, hunting and fishing scenes, land and sea animals, travel, legends, spirits, shamans, priests and divinities are all sources of inspiration for the representatives of a society, primarily defined by its respect for nature. Much as the exhibition produced in partnership with Musée d'Art Inuit Brousseau, in Quebec, that opened in December 2002 at Lyon's Natural History Museum, this book bears witness to the power and vitality of Inuit art, inciting us to explore a vast territory and a fascinating culture.