LeadStory

CBC News

Vatican sends back dozens of Indigenous artifacts to Canada

CBC News · Just In
CBC News
CBC News
Just In

The Vatican has gifted more than 60 First Nations, Métis and Inuit artifacts to the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops as an act of reconciliation for harms committed to Indigenous peoples by the church.

Breakdown
  • Over 60 First Nations, Métis, and Inuit artifacts are being returned to Canada from the Vatican. 10s
  • The artifacts were originally sent to Rome in 1925 for a world exhibition organized by Pope Pius XI. 40s
  • It is unclear whether the artifacts were given as gifts or confiscated by missionaries. 50s
  • Negotiations for the return of the artifacts have been ongoing, with Pope Francis supporting the repatriation as part of reconciliation efforts. 1m 1s
  • The artifacts are expected to arrive in Montreal and will be transferred to national Indigenous organizations for return to their original communities, a process that may take years. 1m 38s
HistoryReligion