The Vatican has returned 62 indigenous artefacts to Canada, marking a significant gesture in the ongoing reconciliation process. This restitution, which includes items like an Inuit kayak and embroidered gloves, comes a century after they were taken for a missionary exhibition in Rome.
On Saturday, Pope Leo XIV formally handed over the artefacts to the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), which will facilitate their return to indigenous communities. The move is seen as a concrete step following Pope Francis’s 2022 apology for the Catholic Church’s role in the residential schools system, where he acknowledged the ‘genocide’ and suppression of indigenous identity. This action aligns with broader efforts to address historical injustices and foster dialogue.
The artefacts, totaling 62 items, were originally sent to Rome by missionaries to be displayed in a 1925 exhibition that showcased over 100,000 objects from around the world. Among the returned pieces are an Inuit kayak historically used for whale hunting in Canada’s far north, wampum belts, war clubs, and a set of embroidered gloves from the Cree Nation. These items hold deep cultural and spiritual significance for the communities from which they were taken.
This restitution is part of a Vatican initiative to redress past wrongs, building on Pope Francis’s 2022 ‘penitential pilgrimage’ to Canada. During that visit, tribal leaders explicitly requested the return of their cultural heritage, highlighting the importance of these artefacts in preserving indigenous traditions and identity. The Vatican and CCCB issued a joint statement describing the return as a symbol of ‘dialogue, respect, and fraternity.’
The items are currently stored in Rome and are scheduled to be flown back to Canada on December 6. Upon arrival, the CCCB will transfer them to Canada’s National Indigenous Organizations, which will oversee the reunification with their original communities. The cost of repatriation has been prepaid by the tribes themselves, who plan to hold ceremonies to welcome the artefacts back, symbolizing a healing process.
Canadian officials have welcomed the move, with the Foreign Minister praising it as ‘an important step that honours the diverse cultural heritage of Indigenous peoples and supports ongoing efforts toward truth, justice, and reconciliation.’ This gesture is seen as a positive development in the complex relationship between the Catholic Church and indigenous groups in Canada, though some critics note the power imbalances of the era when the items were taken.
The artefacts had been held in the Vatican Museum’s ethnographic collection, known as the Anima Mundi museum. While the church has characterized them as ‘gifts’ from tribal leaders, historical context reveals they were acquired during a period when Canadian law and Catholic decrees prohibited native spiritual practices, leading to the suppression of cultural expressions. This return is part of a global trend towards repatriating cultural heritage to indigenous peoples.
Looking ahead, the successful repatriation could set a precedent for similar actions by other institutions holding indigenous artefacts. It underscores the importance of ongoing reconciliation efforts and the need for continued dialogue to address historical grievances, with the potential to strengthen ties between the Vatican and indigenous communities worldwide.
