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Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Vatican hiding sacred treasures, countries demand return of indigenous artifacts
The Vatican's Anima Mundi Ethnological Museum , nestled in the heart of Vatican City , is home to thousands of Indigenous artifacts from every corner of the globe. Originally collected for a 1925 Vatican exhibition showcasing the reach of Catholic missions, these items now sit at the center of a growing international debate: Should these sacred and culturally vital objects be returned to their communities of origin? As calls for repatriation grow louder, here's a closer look at which countries are demanding the return of their heritage, what artifacts are involved, and where the Vatican stands. Canada: A call for healing and justice Canadian Indigenous leaders are among the most vocal, seeking the return of sacred items such as a rare Inuvialuit sealskin, Cree leather gloves, a two-century-old wampum belt, a Gwich'in baby belt, a beluga tooth necklace, sacred pipes, medicine bundles, ceremonial attire, and an Inuit kayak. These artifacts were taken during a period marked by forced assimilation and residential schools. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Top 25 Most Beautiful Women In The World Car Novels Undo Chief Bobby Cameron of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations emphasized, 'Every one of these artifacts is a sacred item, essential for the healing journey of numerous survivors of residential schools'. Floyd Favel, curator at the Chief Poundmaker Museum, added, 'They embody our history and culture. They strengthen our connection to the past, which is increasingly vital as our languages and cultures face significant threats'. Victoria Pruden, president of the Métis National Council, reflected on viewing the artifacts: 'You couldn't help but feel that tug in your heart that those items should be back home. And they should be somewhere where our children and our grandchildren and our communities could enjoy them and contemplate them'. Live Events Despite Pope Francis 's 2022 apology and pledge to return the artifacts, none have yet been repatriated. 'There's a lot of rhetoric around truth and reconciliation, a lot of sort of performativity around it, but there hasn't been any restitution to date,' said Indigenous advocate Bell. Ecuador: A rare success story Ecuador is among the few countries to have seen a successful return: the Vatican repatriated a shrunken head used in Jivaroan rituals back to Ecuador in 2021. This act is frequently cited as a hopeful precedent by other nations seeking the return of their own heritage. Australia: Seeking recognition and respect The Vatican's collection includes feathered headdresses, masks, and ceremonial objects from Aboriginal Australian communities. Aboriginal leaders argue these items remain stripped of context and meaning, and their calls for return persist. The Vatican claims these were gifts, but many Indigenous advocates and historians dispute whether genuine consent was possible under colonial power dynamics. The Vatican's position: gifts or appropriation? The Vatican maintains that most items were received as gifts, but Pope Francis has acknowledged the need for restitution. 'The Seventh Commandment comes to mind: If you steal something you have to give it back,' he said, signaling openness to returning artifacts on a case-by-case basis. On the broader issue, Pope Francis stated, 'The restitution of the Indigenous things is underway with Canada — at least we agreed to do it… In the case where you can return things, where it's necessary to make a gesture, better to do it. It's good for everyone, so you don't get used to putting your hands in someone else's pockets'. As the international spotlight grows, the Vatican faces mounting pressure to address these claims transparently and justly. For many Indigenous communities, the return of these artifacts is not just about reclaiming objects, but about restoring identity, dignity, and cultural continuity. As Victoria Pruden put it, 'What an important symbol of reconciliation returning them will be when we manage to accomplish that".
CBC
16-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Indigenous leaders call on new Pope to return thousands of artifacts
The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) is calling for the Vatican to return sacred First Nation artifacts taken from Indigenous communities during the residential school era. The FSIN, which represents Saskatchewan's First Nations, has previously formally requested the repatriation of items including sacred pipes, medicine bundles, ceremonial regalia and other cultural objects currently housed in the Vatican Museums in Vatican City. FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron has renewed that request in light of Pope Leo XIV's recent appointment as head of the Catholic Church. "Every single one of those artifacts are sacred items there, crucial for the healing journey for many residential school survivors," Cameron said in an interview Wednesday. Indigenous leaders from Saskatchewan were part of a delegation that went to the Vatican in 2022 to meet Pope Francis. For that visit, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops arranged for a group of First Nations, Métis and Inuit delegates to meet Francis at the Vatican, and see some of the artifacts during private tours of the Vatican Museums. They included an Inuvialuit kayak still held at the Vatican Museums, along with thousands of other Indigenous artifacts. Cameron said every item put back in the hands of Indigenous people would go a long way in the healing journey of residential school survivors. He said there may even be pictures of children whose families never saw them again. "There were many that were tortured and beaten to death and never made it home, just totally vanished. But we know what happened. They were murdered," he said. Floyd Favel, curator of the Chief Poundmaker Museum and Gallery on Poundmaker First Nation, about 175 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon, said in an interview that the artifacts are living objects that are part of Indigenous people's legacy. "They hold our history. They hold our culture," Favel said. "It does strengthen our link with the past. And we need that more these days because our languages and our cultures, they're very much threatened." The Catholic Church previously justified colonization of Indigenous people through its Doctrine of Discovery, a legal concept backed by 15th-century papal bulls. Pope Francis repudiated the Doctrine of Discovery in 2023 after decades of advocacy by Indigenous Peoples worldwide. "We lost our culture, and it's in a fragile state. When you bring back these objects, it will awaken people because these objects are living entities. You could say spiritual energies, living art," Favel said. Victoria Pruden, president of the Métis National Council, said in a statement to CBC that she is asking the Vatican to work with Métis knowledge-keepers to identify which items in the collection belong to the Métis and to return them. "These artifacts were taken during eras of profound injustice. Their return is an essential step in advancing reconciliation and repairing the deep harms caused by colonial policies, including the role the Church played in the residential school system," she said. It's a message she'll take to Rome as she attends Pope Leo's inaugural mass on Sunday.
CBC
16-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
FSIN calls on Vatican to return sacred Indigenous artifacts
The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations says ceremonial regalia, sacred pipes, medicine bundles and other rare artifacts are at the Vatican, and wants them returned. FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron says he will renew his demand now that Leo XIV is Pope.
