Premières Nations - Arts et cultures du Nord-Ouest de l'Amérique

At the musée du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac, the exhibition First Nations brings together masks, carved poles, textiles and ceremonial objects from the peoples of North America’s Northwest Coast. The exhibition connects these forms with the histories, territories and rights they convey. From historic works to contemporary creations, it presents traditions that continue to evolve.

A transformation mask gives tangible expression to this visual language. When closed, it depicts a raven; when its panels open, a human face appears. Used in Kwakwaka’wakw ceremonies, this type of object evokes a lineage’s ties to its ancestors and can assert its rights to a territory. The carving is thus inseparable from the stories and gestures that accompany it.

Bentwood chests extend this focus to objects that are both practical and symbolic. Steam is used to bend a plank to form the sides of the container, while painted and carved designs also make it a family treasure. Through these techniques, the exhibition shows how the resources of the forests and coast help shape communal life.

Colonial history, epidemics, the potlatch ban and Indigenous residential schools shed light on the disruptions imposed on these societies. The final section traces their artistic resurgence. In Les Carnets de Daalkaatlii, Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas draws on a flood story passed down within his Haida clan to create a series of eight works. The dialogue between heritage and invention continues today.

Practical information
- Galerie Jardin.
- Tuesday to Sunday, 10:30 am to 7 pm; until 10 pm on Thursdays.
- Open on Mondays during school holidays, except in July and August.
- Closed on 25 December. Closes at 6 pm on 24 and 31 December.
- Free admission on the first Sunday of the month.