The Vatican has returned 62 Indigenous artefacts to Canada in a major step toward cultural reconciliation. The handover took place in mid-November and brought emotional reactions from Indigenous leaders. Many of the items had been held in Rome for almost a century. Their return marked a moment that many communities had waited for with deep hope.

🪶 A Long-Awaited Cultural Homecoming

The artefacts include masks, wampum belts, carvings and an Inuit kayak. Missionaries gathered these objects in the early 1900s and shipped them to Rome for a church exhibition in 1925. After that, the items stayed inside the Vatican’s ethnographic collection for decades.

During the handover ceremony, church officials stressed that the return symbolised respect and renewed dialogue. Canadian bishops accepted the items and confirmed they would deliver them to Indigenous organisations. These groups will then work with each community to decide how each artefact should be handled. Many leaders called the moment emotional and powerful. Some said it felt like “welcoming missing relatives home.”

The transfer also formed part of a broader effort by the Catholic Church to acknowledge its historical role in colonial systems. Indigenous advocates have long pushed for this recognition. They argued that sacred objects held in foreign museums had been taken without free consent. Their return, they said, supports healing and cultural continuity.

✨ Why the Return Matters

For many Indigenous communities, these items carry deep spiritual meaning. They hold stories, teachings and symbols that connect people to ancestors. Because of this, returning them is more than a gesture. It restores culture and identity.

Canadian officials welcomed the decision. They said it aligned with national goals for reconciliation and cultural restoration. Several also noted that the return sets an important precedent. Many other countries still hold Indigenous items from Canada. Community leaders hope this event can motivate further transfers.

Historians, however, pointed out that thousands of other artefacts remain outside Canada. They urged the Vatican and other institutions to speed up similar processes. They also pushed for direct community involvement at every stage.

📦 What Happens Next

The artefacts will first be transported to the Canadian Museum of History. Staff there will catalogue and prepare them for return. After that, each item will travel to its original community. Many Indigenous groups are already planning ceremonies to welcome the objects.

As this process unfolds, the focus will stay on respect and collaboration. Indigenous representatives emphasised that these objects should be used to revive language, stories and artistic traditions. For many, the return marked a milestone. It also highlighted how much work remains in the journey toward full cultural restitution.