The Vatican is poised to announce the return of several dozen Indigenous artifacts to Canada, marking a significant step in addressing the Catholic Church’s historical role in suppressing Indigenous cultures in the Americas. The items, including an Inuit kayak, are part of the Vatican Museum’s ethnographic collection, known as the Anima Mundi museum. This move comes amid growing global debates over the restitution of cultural goods taken from Indigenous peoples during colonial periods. The decision follows Pope Francis’s 2022 meeting with Indigenous leaders, during which he apologized for the Church’s involvement in Canada’s residential school system. The leaders, shown artifacts such as wampum belts, war clubs, and masks, requested their return. Francis later expressed support for returning items on a case-by-case basis, emphasizing the importance of making gestures of reconciliation. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has been collaborating with Indigenous groups to facilitate the return, with an official announcement expected soon. The artifacts, accompanied by provenance information, will first be sent to the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec, where experts and Indigenous communities will determine their origins and future. This process follows the “church-to-church” model used in 2023 when the Vatican returned Parthenon Marbles to Greece. The return of these items, acquired during an era of “Catholic Imperialism,” is seen as a pivotal moment in recognizing Indigenous sovereignty and fostering healing.
Vatican will return dozens of artifacts to Indigenous groups in Canada as gesture of reconciliation
