A traditional Inuvialuit kayak, utilized in beluga and whale hunts over a century ago, along with 61 additional cultural artifacts from Indigenous communities in Canada, have been stored in the vaults of Vatican Museums. However, these cultural treasures will soon be returned to Canada on December 6th, following a generous gesture by Pope Leo XIV who presented them to the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB). This welcome news was communicated through a joint statement issued by the Vatican and the conference.
The decision to return these cultural items was reached after a meeting between the Pope and a CCCB delegation, which included Bishop Pierre Goudreault, Rev. Richard Smith, Archbishop of Vancouver, and Rev. Jean Vézina, the general secretary. The statement emphasized that Pope Leo XIV intends for this act of gifting to symbolize a tangible expression of dialogue, respect, and fraternity.
The Vatican has entrusted the CCCB with the responsibility of safeguarding, respecting, and preserving these artifacts, ensuring their proper care and protection. The CCCB has committed to promptly transferring these items to the National Indigenous Organizations (NIOs), who will then oversee their return to their respective Indigenous communities.
Negotiations for this repatriation initiative were led by Indigenous groups and have been ongoing for two years. The costs associated with the negotiations and the repatriation process have been covered by Indigenous groups, reflecting their dedication to reclaiming these important cultural objects.
Joyce Napier, the Canadian ambassador to the Holy See, played a crucial role in the government’s efforts to facilitate the repatriation of these cultural items. She described the return of these artifacts as a historic occasion, highlighting the Vatican’s willingness to cooperate in the process. The artifacts, currently housed in the Vatican Museums, will be carefully packed in crates and transported to Montreal via Frankfurt on an Air Canada flight scheduled to land on December 6th.
Subsequently, the artifacts will be conveyed to the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec, where experts will assess their condition, validate their origins, and collaborate with Indigenous representatives to determine their final placement. This momentous return of the items is viewed as a significant step forward for Indigenous communities, particularly in light of the historical injustices endured by many due to the residential school system.
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand has also lauded this initiative, highlighting its significance in honoring the diverse cultural heritage of Indigenous peoples and supporting ongoing efforts towards truth, justice, and reconciliation. The return of these artifacts is structured as a church-to-church “gift,” a protocol followed by the Vatican to facilitate the return of cultural objects without setting a precedent for direct returns to nations or communities.
The initiative to repatriate these cultural items gained momentum following Pope Francis’s visit to Canada in 2022 and the subsequent publication of the Declaration on the Doctrine of Discovery in 2023. The symbolic importance of restoring these artifacts, considered sacred by Indigenous communities, was acknowledged during discussions between Canadian officials and Vatican representatives.
The artifacts, including the historic Inuvialuit kayak and other significant items, were originally sent to Rome in 1925 for a world exhibition organized by Pope Pius XI. Many of these artifacts were acquired during a period marked by forced conversions, cultural suppression, and the establishment of residential schools in Canada, underscoring the need for their rightful return to Indigenous communities.
Indigenous leaders emphasize the necessity of conducting ceremonies prior to the artifacts’ repatriation, highlighting the cultural significance and spiritual importance of these items. While the return of these artifacts is a positive development, some have raised concerns about the “church-to-church” approach and have called for greater community involvement in the identification and repatriation process.
The repatriation of these cultural artifacts represents a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts towards reconciliation and acknowledgment of past injustices faced by Indigenous communities in Canada.