A kayak that has been stored in the Vatican Museums for many years is expected to be returned to Indigenous communities in Canada. The kayak holds historical significance for Western Arctic communities, reflecting their hunting traditions. Negotiations between the Vatican and Canadian Catholic Church are progressing well, with the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops facilitating the return of this and other Indigenous artifacts.
The Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Que., will initially receive the artifacts for assessment before determining their final placement with input from Indigenous representatives. The Vatican plans to transfer the items to the Canadian Bishops, who will then pass them on to Indigenous communities, following a “church-to-church” donation model.
These artifacts, which include the rare kayak—one of only five of its kind globally—were originally sent to Rome in 1925 for an exhibition. Most of the collection, which consists of various Indigenous objects, has been in storage in the Vatican Museums’ ethnological section. The return of these items signifies a step towards healing and reconciliation, particularly for survivors of the residential school system in Canada.
Pope Francis, after his visit to Canada in 2023, expressed the importance of restitution for these objects. Indigenous leaders view the pending return as a significant and personal gesture, essential for the healing journey of residential school survivors. The Vatican’s acknowledgment of the coercive context in which these artifacts were collected is a crucial aspect of the reconciliation process. The return of the kayak and other artifacts will not only signify a physical homecoming but also serve as a meaningful response to the cultural losses endured by Indigenous communities.
