Indigenous artifacts from the Vatican collection return to Canada

First Nations, Inuit and Métis leaders have for years called on the Vatican to repatriate Indigenous items in their collection.

First Nations leaders brought up the artifacts when they met with Pope Francis in Rome in 2022 to discuss the legacy of church-run residential schools.

First Nations delegates were given a private viewing of some of the items held by the church during their Rome visit, including embroidered gloves, a kayak and a sling for carrying a baby. Some of the artifacts had not been seen by the public in decades.

They left the Vatican empty-handed but with a renewed determination to bring the items back where they belong.

Woodhouse Nepinak, who was part of that delegation, reflected on the journey that she said started around 2006, when former prime minister Stephen Harper apologized for the federal government’s role in residential schools.

Out of that apology came the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which investigated the history and legacy of the institutions and drafted 94 “calls to action” for government, businesses, churches and Canadians.

Those calls to action include a section on museums and archives, mostly directed at the federal government and Canadian museums. The Assembly of First Nations passed a separate resolution to repatriate artifacts.

Woodhouse Nepinak helped draft that resolution while working under former national chief Perry Bellegarde, under guidance of elders.

“We always pushed when we could,” she said.

Then came the trip to the Vatican and Pope Francis’ trip to Canada in July 2022. When Pope Francis died, Woodhouse Nepinak repeated the call for the artifacts’ return to his successor, Pope Leo.

The artifacts will not be available for public viewing until the new year.

Woodhouse Nepinak said the return of these 61 objects will not be the end of the story.

“There’s more First Nations artifacts at the Vatican Museum. This is just the start,”