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, points out that the process of repatriation goes beyond simply relocating the objects from the Vatican archives and museum. He highlights that certain items may hold great sacred value and require ceremonial procedures before being returned to their place of origin.
Last week, Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak announced that discussions are underway to repatriate several First Nations items from the Vatican Museums. The Canadian Catholic Church and the Vatican are reportedly making progress towards an agreement to return the objects by the end of the year, facilitated by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB).
Whiteduck expresses his frustration at the lack of official information regarding the discussions and a definitive list of objects that might be returned to his community. He emphasizes the need for transparency and involvement of Indigenous communities in the repatriation process.
A ‘church-to-church’ transfer
The repatriation process involves a “church-to-church” donation method, which Cheyenne Lazore finds inadequate. Lazore, the manager of the Akwesasne Rights & Research Office, insists that each First Nation should have the opportunity to identify and claim their rightful artifacts.
The returned items will initially be housed at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Que., where collaboration between experts and Indigenous representatives will determine their final destinations.
Indigenous groups have long been advocating for the return of artifacts taken during the residential school era. In 2022, a delegation of Indigenous leaders from Canada met with Pope Francis to view Indigenous artifacts at the Vatican, renewing calls for repatriation following the appointment of Pope Leo XIV.
Whiteduck underscores the historical significance of these objects and the need to understand the complex relationship between Indigenous communities, the Catholic Church, and museums. He emphasizes that the value of these artifacts extends beyond their physical form and holds profound cultural and spiritual meaning.
Lazore acknowledges the potential for healing through the return of these items to their respective communities but notes that true reconciliation is still a distant goal. She highlights the ongoing trauma stemming from the residential school system and the long road ahead towards addressing historical injustices.
Many of the Indigenous items currently held at the Vatican were donated in the early 1920s following a request by Pope Pius XI for Catholic missions to contribute Indigenous belongings. Among the approximately 100,000 artifacts sent were a human face mask from Haida Gwaii, a kayak from Inuvialuit, and a pair of beaded moccasins.