The exhibition Indigenous Voices of Today: Knowledge, Trauma, Resilience bears witness to the still unrecognized knowledge of Indigenous peoples in Quebec and Canada as well as the deep wounds they carry and their incredible resilience.

About one hundred carefully selected objects from the Museum’s Indigenous cultures collection are combined with more than eighty powerful inspiring stories (texts and videos) from members of the 11 Indigenous nations in Quebec, shedding light on their knowledge and philosophies. They speak out about their suffering as well as their dreams and plans for a better future to help restore their health, which has been undermined by the process of assimilation.

As part of an effort to initiate dialogue and foster understanding, the exhibition offers an opportunity for a meaningful connection.

The testimonies were gathered by the Huron-Wendat curator Elisabeth Kaine, who between 2010 and 2018 conducted a major consultation involving 800 people from the 11 Indigenous nations living in Quebec.

The objects on display were selected by the Innu Jean St-Onge, of the Maison de la transmission de la culture innue Shaputuan, in Uashat, using an approach inspired by Indigenous ways of understanding the world through observation and allowing the objects to speak to him.

This permanent exhibition was curated by Elisabeth Kaine (1955-2022), Co-Holder –until her death in 2022– of the UNESCO Chair at Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, titled The transmission of first peoples culture to foster well-being and empowerment, and long-time contributor to the Museum.

This exhibition has been produced through a financial contribution from the program Aide aux projets pour le soutien des expositions permanentes of the Québec Cultural Heritage Fund of the ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec.