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Museums

Rare Western Arctic Kayak and Indigenous Cultural Objects to Return Home to Canada

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A long-awaited campaign by Indigenous groups and the Canadian government to repatriate cultural objects from the Vatican Museums has finally reached a milestone, with the objects expected to arrive in Canada by Christmas. The objects, sent from Canada over a century ago, include a rare Western Arctic kayak, wampum belts, and other cultural items that have been stored in the Vatican Museums' ethnological section. Representatives from Indigenous groups will examine and catalogue the objects before sending them to their communities for display.

Key Takeaways:

  • The repatriation of the Indigenous cultural objects is a significant step in the residential schools reconciliation process, with the Métis National Council, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and Assembly of First Nations involved in the campaign.
  • The Vatican Museums' ethnological section, Anima Mundi, holds over 100,000 pieces of Indigenous cultural artifacts, many of which were collected by missionaries from Australia to Zambia in the early 20th century.
  • The highest-profile artifact, the Pope's Kayak, is a 4.4-meter-long sealskin Inuvialuit boat that is at least a century old and one of only six Mackenzie Delta kayaks known to exist.
  • The wampum belt, donated to Pope Gregory XVI in 1831, is a 229-centimeter-long beaded belt made from shells and is from Kanesatake, Que.
  • The repatriation process has been fraught with nuance, with negotiations involving legalities, timing, logistics, restoration plans, and final homes across Canada.
  • The kayak, for example, is extremely delicate, with its sealskin cover ripped in the bow and stern, and its frame made from driftwood.
  • Other Indigenous objects from Canada in the museum include embroidered leather gloves of Cree origin and a colourful Gwich'in baby belt, put on display in 2022.

Statistics:

  • Over 100,000 pieces of Indigenous cultural artifacts are held in the Vatican Museums' ethnological section, Anima Mundi.
  • The repatriation campaign has been ongoing for over 20 years, with Indigenous groups and the Canadian government working together to bring the objects home.
  • The kayak is one of only six Mackenzie Delta kayaks known to exist, and it is at least a century old.
  • The wampum belt is approximately 229 centimeters long and is over almost 200 years old.
  • The kayaks were sent to Rome in 1925 as part of a collection of religious and non-religious artifacts made by Indigenous peoples and missionaries from around the world.

Sources:

  • Vatican Museums director Barbara Jatta
  • Jean Vézina, secretary-general of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB)
  • The Globe and Mail
  • The Métis National Council
  • The Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
  • The Assembly of First Nations
  • The Canadian Museum of History

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