"This is the first biography of Marius Barbeau (1883-1969), the most eminent figure in Canadian anthropology, a pioneer and principal founder whose work lies at the base of Ottawa's Canadian Museum of Civilization collections. He is almost a patron saint of the Museum of Civilization, for which he worked all of his life.".

"Author, professor and popularizer, Marius Barbeau is celebrated at home and abroad for his Amerindian research on the North Pacific Coast and especially for his definitive studies of totem poles and fieldwork with the Tsimsyan, Haida and Tlingit. He also worked among the Hurons and Iroquois. He remains our leading scientific folklorist, particularly in French Canada, where he made many other major contributions.".

"He was Canada's first French-speaking Rhodes Scholar (1907), a distinguished member and president of the American Folklore Society, Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, winner of the Prix David for writing in French and English, founding secretary of the Canadian Historical Association and a charter member of the Canadian Geographical Society." "The biography also outlines the history of anthropology in Canada."--BOOK JACKET.