The Vatican Returns Indigenous Artifacts to Canada

The Vatican declared on Saturday its decision to return 62 artifacts from its collection related to Indigenous art and culture to tribes in Canada. This move is seen as part of the church’s efforts to atone for its historical role in diminishing Indigenous cultures across the Americas.

Pope Leo XIV sent these items, which include the noteworthy Inuit kayak, to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Canada. They indicated they would return the items to their respective Indigenous communities “as soon as possible.”

According to a statement from both the Vatican and the Canadian church, the artifacts were regarded as “gifts” and meaningful symbols of “dialogue, respect, and fraternity.” The Canadian government expressed its support for this transfer.

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand highlighted the significance of this action, describing it as a vital move that embraces the rich cultural heritage of Indigenous peoples and aligns with ongoing pursuits of truth, justice, and reconciliation.

These artifacts had been part of the ethnographic collection at the Vatican Museum, which is now referred to as the Anima Mundi Museum, since 1925. Interestingly, this specific collection has been located near the food court and has historically attracted few visitors.

The items were initially gathered by Catholic missionaries for exhibition in the Vatican Gardens in 1925. Exhibits included various ceremonial and cultural objects, such as feathered headdresses, carved walrus tusks, masks, and embroidered animal skins. These were presented to Pope Pius XI, who wanted to highlight the global mission of the Church.

The items designated for return include Inuit kayaks, wampum belts, war clubs, and masks. In recent times, this collection has stirred controversy, representing cultural property taken from Indigenous peoples during a colonial era when power dynamics heavily favored the church and the government.

Historical discussions around these artifacts often revolve around whether they were genuinely acquired freely or if the significant power imbalances during missionary work influenced their collection. At the time, Catholic orders supported government policies aimed at forced assimilation, leading to the erasure of Indigenous traditions, which has been termed “cultural genocide” by Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

A spokesperson for the Canadian Bishops’ Conference confirmed that the artifacts are set to arrive at the Canadian Museum of History in Ottawa on December 6, after which they will be reunited with their original communities.