The Vatican will return several dozen cultural objects, including an Inuit kayak, to Indigenous communities in Canada. The objects are housed in the Vatican Museum's Anima Mundi ethnographic collection and have been subject to scrutiny from Indigenous advocates who argue that cultural heritage stolen during colonial periods should be repatriated. The return follows Pope Francis's 2022 "penitential pilgrimage" to Canada, where Indigenous leaders requested the return of war clubs, masks, and wampum belts. The Vatican plans to use a "church-to-church" model, handing the objects to the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, with the understanding that Indigenous communities will be the ultimate custodians. An announcement is expected in the coming weeks, with the objects potentially arriving in Canada by the end of 2025.
This restitution marks a significant step in the Catholic Church's reckoning with its role in the oppression of Indigenous groups in the Americas, particularly through the residential school system. By returning sacred and living cultural items rather than treating them as artifacts, the Vatican acknowledges the harm caused by colonial-era theft and sets a precedent for other institutions holding contested cultural heritage. The move aligns with Pope Francis's broader support for restitution, following his return of Parthenon fragments to Greece, and signals a shift in the Church's approach to addressing historical injustices.