Gilbert Whiteduck underscores the significance of repatriating Indigenous artifacts from the Vatican museum as a vital step towards reconciliation, emphasizing the need for a respectful approach that honors their sacred essence. Whiteduck, serving as the education director for Kitigan Zibi Anishinābeg, stresses that the process should involve proper ceremonial procedures due to the potentially sacred nature of these objects.
In a recent statement, Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak disclosed ongoing discussions about repatriating a range of First Nations items from the Vatican Museums. Progress is being made by the Canadian Catholic Church and the Vatican towards a potential agreement to return the objects by the end of the year, with the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) facilitating the repatriation process.
Whiteduck expresses challenges in accessing information on these discussions and notes the absence of an official list detailing the items that could be returned to his community. The planned return is structured as a “church-to-church” donation, a method that Cheyenne Lazore opposes. Lazore, managing the Akwesasne Rights & Research Office, advocates for a transparent process where each First Nation can identify and claim their respective artifacts.
The artifacts are slated to be initially housed at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Que., where Indigenous representatives will collaborate with experts to determine their rightful destinations. Indigenous groups have long been urging the Vatican to return artifacts taken during the residential school era, with a delegation of Indigenous leaders meeting Pope Francis in 2022 to emphasize the importance of repatriation.
Whiteduck emphasizes the historical context of these artifacts, highlighting their significance in the Indigenous communities’ interactions with the Catholic Church and museums. He stresses the importance of understanding the deep cultural and spiritual value these objects hold beyond their physical form.
Lazore acknowledges the potential for peace through the return of these items to their communities but notes that true reconciliation is still a distant goal. Reflecting on the origins of these artifacts, many of them were sent to the Vatican in the 1920s following a request from Pope Pius XI for Catholic missions worldwide to donate Indigenous belongings. Notable items included a human face mask from Haida Gwaii, a kayak from Inuvialuit, and a pair of beaded moccasins.