The Catholic Church in the Vatican has repatriated 62 sacred cultural artifacts to their traditional territories in Canada. Belonging to the indigenous communities in the country, the move by the Vatican marks a significant milestone to start reconciliation with the indigenous peoples for all the atrocities committed by the Catholic Church during the colonial period and missionary era in Canada.
Amongst the repatriated artifacts were ceremonial objects which are of spiritual and cultural importance to the Inuit, First Nations, and Metis communities. The cultural artifacts were held in the Anima Mundi collection, a museum within the Vatican that contains cultural and religious items from different cultures and people around the globe.
On a snowy Saturday, December 6,2025, in the city of Montreal’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport traditional leaders emotionally and anxiously awaited the offloading of their precious traditional artifacts from an air Canada cargo jet from the Vatican.
A rare Inuit sealskin kayak which was held for more than 100 years ago were amongst the items retuned .
Over the years the Catholic Church in the Vatican has said the objects were gifted to the leader of the Church, Pope Pius XI, who led the Catholic faith in 1922. On the contrary indigenous peoples deny those claims by the Vatican.
Traditional Elders and leaders from the Assembly of First Nations, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and Métis National Council were were present in Montreal to receive their cultural objects that had been exhibited in the Vatican Museums for centuries.
“Inuit are grateful to the many partners who have come together to make this day possible, including the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, the Vatican, the Canadian Council of Catholic Bishops, the Government of Canada and the Museum of History. The return of these items follows many years of work. We are at the very early stages of our reconciliation journey but we are pleased to see these cultural items return to us and we commit to work with our National Indigenous partners to learn all we can about them.” Natan Obed, President, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
The National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, Assembly of First Nations, stated that the items are not mere artifacts, but “they are sacred, living items.”
The Métis National Council President, Victoria Pruden, reteirated the need to return all items to their original territory with respect and dignity.
“We are committed to ensuring that each item is returned safely and respectfully to the community to whom it rightfully belongs. Reconciliation is ongoing work, grounded in relationships, responsibility, and the continued pursuit of truth, justice, healing, and dignity for our Peoples,” she said.
All of the artifacts will be closely examined at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec, near Ottawa, before Indigenous elders and leaders find new homes for the cultural items.
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