THE MEETING OF ETHNOLOGY AND MUSEOLOGY, A WHOLE STORY. Twentieth century to twenty-first century overview in Quebec

In following the storyline of time-tested intangible heritage, it is of interest to retrace the links between ethnology, the study of peoples, and museology, the showcasing of both tangible and intangible heritage. Our starting point dates back to 1937 at the Second Congress on the French Language in Canada where there was a real wake-up call related to preserving Francophone heritage. The presence of figures like Lionel Groulx, Maurice Duplessis and even Luc Lacourciere at this event marks it as a key date. Then, as one thing led to another, we would undertake the modernization of Quebec's cultural institutions, notably with the creation, in 1972, of Parks Canada and again in 1988 of the Museum of Civilization. This dynamic process of modernization made possible the inclusion of so-called popular heritage and of intangible heritage within institutions. Actually, in the development of a discipline, it is important not to forget how important training courses are in the shaping of future generations; that represents our third focus. Our reflection is based on the place of intangible heritage, something often questioned but, never the less, so important in our societies.