Vatican Museum to return artifacts to Indigenous groups in Canada
Summary
The Vatican plans to return a set of artifacts to Indigenous groups in Canada. These items, part of the Vatican Museum's ethnographic collection, were taken during colonial times and have led to strong calls for their return. The move comes after discussions between the Vatican and Indigenous leaders following Pope Francis's apology for the church's role in running Canadian residential schools.Key Facts
- The Vatican will return artifacts to Indigenous communities in Canada.
- These items include an Inuit kayak and are part of the Anima Mundi museum collection.
- Discussions intensified after Pope Francis's 2022 meeting with Indigenous leaders.
- Indigenous groups have long questioned whether the artifacts were given freely.
- The artifacts likely arrived at the Vatican for a 1925 exhibition meant to showcase Indigenous cultures.
- Canada has identified past efforts to suppress Indigenous traditions as “cultural genocide.”
- The return will follow a “church-to-church” process, similar to a recent Vatican return of Parthenon Marbles to Greece.
- Experts and Indigenous groups at the Canadian Museum of History will help determine each artifact's original community.
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