Gilbert Whiteduck emphasizes the significance of repatriating Indigenous artifacts from the Vatican museum as a crucial step towards reconciliation. However, he stresses the importance of handling these items with the utmost respect for their sacred nature.
Whiteduck, the education director for Kitigan Zibi Anishinābeg, highlights that the process of repatriation involves more than just physically transferring the objects from the Vatican archives. He explains that certain items may hold deep spiritual significance and may require ceremonial procedures before being returned to their rightful origins.
Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak recently announced discussions with the Vatican Museums to repatriate a variety of First Nations artifacts. The Canadian Catholic Church and the Vatican are reportedly making progress towards an agreement to return these objects by the end of the year, facilitated by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB).
Despite the ongoing discussions, Whiteduck expresses concerns about the lack of transparency and official lists detailing the potential items to be returned to Indigenous communities. Cheyenne Lazore, manager of the Akwesasne Rights & Research Office, advocates for a thorough identification process to ensure each First Nation receives its rightful cultural belongings.
The artifacts are expected to be returned through a “church-to-church” donation process, with the initial transfer to the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Que. Indigenous representatives will collaborate with experts to determine the appropriate destinations for these items.
Indigenous groups have long been urging the Vatican to repatriate artifacts taken during the residential school era. In a meeting with Pope Francis in 2022, Indigenous leaders reiterated their calls for repatriation and emphasized the need for a deeper understanding of the historical relationship between Indigenous communities and the Catholic Church.
Whiteduck underlines the significance of these artifacts beyond their physical form, emphasizing that they hold cultural and spiritual value that extends beyond mere objects. Lazore acknowledges the potential healing that returning these items to individual communities may bring but notes that full reconciliation is still a distant goal.
Numerous Indigenous items, including a human face mask from Haida Gwaii, a kayak from Inuvialuit, and a pair of beaded moccasins, were sent to the Vatican in the 1920s following a request by Pope Pius XI for donations from Catholic missions worldwide. These artifacts, now part of the Vatican’s permanent collection, symbolize the intricate cultural heritage of Indigenous communities.
