Key Takeaways
- 62 cultural items belonging to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis are being returned to Canada from the Vatican after a century
- The items were collected by missionaries and sent to Rome for a world exhibition in the 1920s
- The repatriation is seen as a positive step towards reconciliation, but more work needs to be done to return the estimated 10,000 Indigenous items still held by the Vatican
- A First Nations-led task force is being created to develop a national repatriation strategy
- The returned items will be examined at the Canadian Museum of History and eventually returned to their communities of origin
Introduction to the Repatriation Process
The repatriation of cultural items is a complex and often contentious issue, involving the return of artifacts and cultural objects to their communities of origin. In this case, 62 cultural items belonging to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis are being returned to Canada from the Vatican after a century. The items were collected by missionaries and sent to Rome for a world exhibition in the 1920s, and have been held in Vatican museums and vaults ever since. The repatriation is seen as a positive step towards reconciliation, but more work needs to be done to return the estimated 10,000 Indigenous items still held by the Vatican.
The Significance of the Returned Items
The returned items include an Inuvialuit kayak used to chase beluga whales, which is one of only five known to exist. The kayak is a significant cultural artifact, and its return is seen as an important step towards the preservation of Inuit cultural heritage. The kayak will be examined at the Canadian Museum of History, where it will be studied and appreciated by Indigenous communities and the general public. The return of the kayak and other cultural items is also seen as an opportunity for the re-introduction of traditional practices, such as kayak making.
The Repatriation Process
The repatriation process was facilitated by the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and Métis National Council, who worked together to negotiate the return of the cultural items. The items were repatriated through a church-to-church transfer, from the Vatican to the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. The AFN sent a delegation of elders, knowledge keepers, and residential school survivors to Rome to hold ceremonies while the items were being packed for transport. The items were then transported by truck to Frankfurt, Germany, and will arrive in Montreal by plane, where they will be welcomed by representatives from the AFN, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and Métis National Council.
The Role of the Canadian Museum of History
The Canadian Museum of History will play a crucial role in the repatriation process, as the items will be transported to the museum for examination and study. The museum’s president and CEO, Caroline Dromaguet, stated that the museum will "safeguard these items with the utmost care, ensuring they remain accessible and respected as communities prepare to welcome them home." The museum will work with Indigenous communities to ensure that the items are handled and cared for in a culturally sensitive manner, and that they are eventually returned to their communities of origin.
Challenges and Controversies
Despite the positive step towards reconciliation, there are still challenges and controversies surrounding the repatriation process. The Manitoba Métis Federation, which left the Métis National Council in 2021, was not included in the repatriation process, and has expressed concerns about the sole Métis item returned. The federation’s president, David Chartrand, views the repatriation as "goodwill" on behalf of the church, but notes that the items returning to Canada today represent only a small portion of Indigenous items at the Vatican. Chartrand has stated that the federation will write to the Vatican to see what items belong to Red River Métis, and to learn about the circumstances of how they ended up there.
Future Steps
The repatriation of the 62 cultural items is just the beginning of a long process to return Indigenous cultural items to their communities of origin. Earlier this week, chiefs and delegates at the AFN special chiefs assembly in Ottawa passed a resolution to create a First Nations-led task force to develop a national repatriation strategy. The task force will work to identify and return cultural items held by museums and institutions around the world, and to develop a framework for the repatriation process. As Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, national chief of the AFN, stated, "There’s more work to do… We have to bring people together to make sure we go line by line every time artifacts get returned that they’re going back to their rightful owners."