Includes bibliographical references (pages 250-258) and index.

Epigraph -- Foreword -- Preface -- Part I. A national collection built over many 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.

Some of the text in this book was originally written in French and then translated into English. Similtaneously published in French under this title: Voyage au cœur des collections des Premiers Peuples.