The Vatican Museums have safeguarded a century-old kayak, representing the history of Western Arctic communities, including Inuvialuit hunts of seals, walrus, and whales. This artifact, along with other Indigenous items, is set to return to Canada as part of a reconciliation effort between the Roman Catholic Church and Indigenous communities.
Negotiations between the Vatican, the Canadian Catholic Church, and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) have progressed well, aiming to finalize the return of these cultural objects by the end of the year. The CCCB emphasized its collaboration with Indigenous Peoples on significant matters, such as the repatriation of artifacts back to their original communities.
The rare kayak, one of only five globally, will initially be housed at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec, for assessment and consultation with Indigenous representatives on its future placement. The Vatican plans to transfer the artifacts to the Canadian Bishops, who will then pass them on to Indigenous communities in a “church-to-church” donation model.
These artifacts, including the kayak, were originally sent to Rome in 1925 for a global exhibition, reflecting Indigenous life from various regions. The return of these items, part of the healing journey for residential school survivors, acknowledges the Church’s past actions and aims to promote reconciliation with Indigenous communities.
The impending return of the Inuvialuit kayak and other artifacts signifies a significant step towards rectifying cultural heritage loss and fostering goodwill between the Church and Indigenous groups.