The Vatican has returned 62 artifacts to Indigenous peoples from Canada, marking a significant step in addressing the Catholic Church’s historical involvement in suppressing Indigenous cultures. During an audience on March 15, 2024, Pope Leo XIV handed the artifacts, which include an iconic Inuit kayak, to representatives from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. This event underscores a broader effort by the Church to engage in meaningful dialogue and reconciliation with Indigenous communities.
The artifacts are part of the Vatican Museum’s ethnographic collection, known as the Anima Mundi museum. According to a joint statement from the Vatican and the Canadian church, these items represent a “concrete sign of dialogue, respect and fraternity.” The collection has faced scrutiny amid a growing conversation about the restitution of cultural items taken from Indigenous peoples during colonial periods.
Historical Context and Controversy
Most items in the Vatican collection were sent to Rome by Catholic missionaries in 1925 for an exhibition in the Vatican gardens, coinciding with that year’s Holy Year. The Vatican maintains that these items were “gifts” to Pope Pius XI, reflecting the Church’s global mission and its interactions with Indigenous communities. Yet, critics, including historians and Indigenous advocates, challenge the notion that these artifacts were freely given, citing the significant power imbalances present during the colonial era.
During this time, Catholic religious orders often enforced Canadian government policies aimed at the forced assimilation of Indigenous peoples. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada has referred to these actions as “cultural genocide.” This included the confiscation of items used in Indigenous spiritual practices, such as the prohibition of the potlatch ceremony, which was integral to many First Nations communities. Many of these confiscated artifacts ended up in museums across Canada, the United States, and Europe, as well as in private collections.
Recent Developments and Future Steps
Discussions surrounding the return of artifacts intensified following a meeting in 2022 between Pope Francis and Indigenous leaders, who had come to the Vatican to receive his apology for the Church’s role in operating Canada’s residential schools. During their visit, they were shown various items from the Vatican’s collection, including the Inuit kayak, wampum belts, war clubs, and masks, and requested their return.
Pope Francis expressed support for returning these cultural items on a case-by-case basis, stating, “In the case where you can return things, where it’s necessary to make a gesture, better to do it.” The Vatican’s announcement coincides with the centenary of the 1925 exhibition, which adds a poignant layer to this act of restitution.
The artifacts will first be transported to the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec. Experts and Indigenous representatives will work together to determine the origins of these items and decide on their future care. The Canadian Catholic hierarchy has committed to ensuring these artifacts are “properly safeguarded, respected and preserved,” with the understanding that the ultimate custodians will be the Indigenous communities they belong to.
As part of its ongoing reflection on its colonial past, in 2023, the Vatican officially repudiated the “Doctrine of Discovery.” This doctrine, rooted in 15th-century papal bulls, provided a theological justification for the colonial seizure of Indigenous lands, and its repudiation signifies a historic acknowledgment of the Church’s complicity in colonial abuses. The Vatican referenced this repudiation in its recent statement, indicating that the return of these artifacts is part of a larger journey of reconciliation initiated by Pope Francis.
The return of these artifacts is a crucial step toward healing and reconciliation, addressing the historical injustices faced by Indigenous peoples in Canada and reaffirming the importance of cultural heritage in the ongoing dialogue between the Catholic Church and Indigenous communities.