Vatican Returns Sacred Indigenous Artifacts After a Century

In a deeply symbolic and emotional ceremony, the Vatican has returned 62 sacred artifacts to Indigenous communities across Canada.

These items, held in the Vatican Museums for more than a century, were formally transferred to leaders of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities in Montreal.

The repatriation fulfills a promise made by the late Pope Francis, who apologized in 2022 for the Catholic Church’s role in Canada’s residential schools. His successor, Pope Leo XIV, carried out the pledge, describing the return as “a gift freely given” and a gesture of healing between the Church and Indigenous peoples.

Among the artifacts now back in Indigenous hands are:

• A rare Inuit sealskin kayak from the Western Arctic, dating back more than 100 years.
• Ceremonial masks and moccasins, representing spiritual traditions of First Nations communities.
• Sacred bundles and etchings, tied to Métis and Cree cultural practices.
• Handcrafted tools and garments, reflecting the artistry and survival skills of Inuit and other northern peoples.

The Canadian Museum of History has unveiled Indigenous artifacts recovered from the Vatican. One of the items shown was a 100-year-old Inuit kayak.

Tribal and Community Significance

Inuit communities: The kayak is more than a vessel—it embodies ancestral knowledge of Arctic survival, navigation, and craftsmanship. Its return is seen as restoring a vital link to Inuit heritage.

Tsilhqot’in Nation: Leaders such as Peyal Laceese emphasized that these items are “living relatives,” not museum pieces, carrying spiritual and cultural presence.

Lil’wat and Tsartlip Nations: Representatives like Katisha Paul described the return as a homecoming, reconnecting communities with sacred belongings taken generations ago.

Métis and Cree peoples: The sacred bundles and ceremonial items are integral to traditional practices, storytelling, and intergenerational teaching.

A Step Toward Healing

Indigenous leaders gathered at Montreal’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to welcome the artifacts, with elders and residential school survivors present. The moment was described as both solemn and celebratory, marking progress in a long struggle for cultural restitution.

“This is not just about objects,” said National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak. “It is about our ancestors, our identity, and our right to carry forward traditions that were interrupted by colonialism.”

While the return of these 62 items is historic, Indigenous leaders note that hundreds more artifacts remain in Vatican collections. The repatriation is seen as a beginning rather than an end, with calls for continued dialogue and restitution.

For many, the artifacts’ return represents a tangible act of reconciliation—restoring sacred belongings to the communities that created them, and ensuring they will be preserved not in distant vaults, but in the living traditions of Indigenous nations.