Vatican to Return Dozens of Indigenous Artifacts to Canada

The Vatican is set to announce the return of several dozen artifacts to Indigenous communities in Canada, marking a significant step in addressing the Catholic Church’s historical role in the suppression of Indigenous culture. The expected announcement, according to officials, will include items from the Vatican Museum’s ethnographic collection, known as the Anima Mundi museum.

Among the artifacts is an Inuit kayak, which holds deep cultural significance. This move comes as part of ongoing discussions about the restitution of cultural items taken from Indigenous peoples during colonial times. Negotiations have gained momentum following a meeting in 2022 between Pope Francis and Indigenous leaders who traveled to the Vatican seeking acknowledgment of the church’s past actions related to Canada’s residential schools.

During their visit, Indigenous representatives were shown several objects from the collection, including wampum belts, war clubs, and masks. They requested the return of these items, leading Pope Francis to express support for returning artifacts on a case-by-case basis. He stated, “In the case where you can return things, where it’s necessary to make a gesture, better to do it.”

The Canadian Catholic Conference of Bishops confirmed its collaboration with Indigenous groups to facilitate the return of the items to their “originating communities.” Vatican and Canadian officials anticipate an announcement in the coming weeks, with the items potentially arriving in Canada before the end of the year. This information was first reported by The Globe and Mail.

Most of the artifacts in question were sent to Rome by Catholic missionaries for a 1925 exhibition in the Vatican gardens, which was a significant event during that year’s Holy Year. The Vatican claims that these items were “gifts” to Pope Pius XI, intended to showcase the church’s global reach and the lives of Indigenous peoples. However, historians and Indigenous advocates have raised concerns regarding whether these items were truly offered voluntarily, given the historical context of Catholic missions in Canada.

The return of these artifacts will follow a precedent set in 2023, when the Vatican returned three fragments of the Parthenon Marbles to the Orthodox Christian Church in Greece. In this case, the Vatican is expected to transfer the items to the Canadian bishops’ conference, with the understanding that the Indigenous communities will be the ultimate custodians.

After the return, the artifacts will be taken to the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec. There, experts alongside Indigenous groups will work to trace the origins of the items and determine the best course of action for their future. While the specific number of items being negotiated remains undisclosed, sources indicate that it totals “a few dozen.”

The aim is to complete the transfer by the end of the year, coinciding with the upcoming 2025 Jubilee, which celebrates hope and marks the centenary of the 1925 Holy Year event. The significance of the 1925 exhibit has led to its controversial legacy being largely overlooked by the Vatican.

The Assembly of First Nations has highlighted the need for logistical arrangements to be finalized before the objects can be returned, particularly in establishing protocols for their handling. National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak emphasized that for First Nations, these items are not merely artifacts, but “living, sacred pieces of our cultures and ceremonies” deserving of respectful treatment.

As the Vatican prepares to make this historic announcement, it underscores the ongoing dialogue surrounding restitution and the reconciliation of past injustices faced by Indigenous communities.