A kayak that has been hidden in the archives of the Vatican Museums for many years is set to make its journey back to the Western Arctic communities it belongs to. The kayak, along with other Indigenous artifacts, is part of a reconciliation effort between the Roman Catholic Church and Indigenous communities in Canada.
Negotiations have been underway between the Vatican, the Canadian Catholic Church, and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) to facilitate the return of these cultural objects. The CCCB has expressed its support for returning the artifacts to their originating communities and anticipates an official announcement from the Holy See in the near future.
The artifacts, including the rare kayak—one of only five in the world—will initially be housed at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec, for assessment and consultation with Indigenous representatives. The Vatican plans to transfer the artifacts to the Canadian Bishops, who will then pass them on to the Indigenous communities as a “church-to-church” donation.
These items were initially sent to Rome in 1925 for a world exhibition, but their return is seen as a significant step in acknowledging the past injustices suffered by Indigenous communities. The Vatican’s Indigenous collection, which includes the Inuvialuit kayak and other items, will soon be reunited with their rightful owners, marking a crucial moment in the healing journey for many residential school survivors.
