A centuries-old kayak stored in the vaults of the Vatican Museums is set to return to Indigenous communities in Canada, signifying reconciliation between them and the Roman Catholic Church. Negotiations between the Vatican, the Canadian Catholic Church, and Indigenous Peoples have made significant progress in facilitating the return of the kayak and other Indigenous artifacts by the end of the year. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) is overseeing the handover, supporting the artifacts’ return to their original communities.
The artifacts, including the rare kayak—one of only five in existence—will be initially housed at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Que., for assessment of their condition, age, and origins. A committee of Indigenous representatives will then determine their final placement. The Vatican plans to transfer the artifacts to the Canadian Bishops, who will subsequently pass them on to the Indigenous communities, following a “church-to-church” donation model to avoid setting a precedent of returning cultural objects directly to nations or communities.
These items, such as the Inuvialuit kayak and a variety of Indigenous artifacts, were originally sent to Rome in 1925 for a world exhibition. Many of the objects were taken from Indigenous communities during a time of forced conversion and cultural suppression, including the residential school system in Canada. The return of these items is seen as a crucial step in the healing journey for residential school survivors and Indigenous communities.
The pending return of the artifacts is symbolic and deeply personal for Indigenous leaders, who view them as sacred items essential for healing. The repatriation of these artifacts is considered a tangible response to address the cultural loss experienced over the years. The Vatican’s acknowledgement of the significance of restitution for these objects comes after years of advocacy by Indigenous leaders and pressure from Canadian officials.
