Natan Obed, president of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), met with Father Nicola Mapelli for a few hours at Obed’s request after touring museums, including the Sistine Chapel and some of Canada’s cultural objects in a new exhibition. Anima Mundi that is not yet open to the public. “The curator was quite open to any scenario we suggested, including repatriation,” Obed said. “Nothing is off the table, as we were told.” The delegates saw only part of the Vatican’s collection of indigenous pieces, including a rare kayak about a century old from the Inuvialuit in the West Arctic. ITK board member Duane Smith, who is also chairman and CEO of regional company Inuvialuit, called on the Vatican last year to return the kayak to the Inuit. Smith declined to attend this month’s delegation in Rome. During Obed’s conversation with Mapelli, the curator talked about how the Vatican Museums have teamed up with many different indigenous peoples, most recently in Australia, to decide what is best for the Vatican’s warehouses. said Obed.

The curator describes the kayak records to Natan Obed

The story of how the kayak arrived at the Vatican is still a mystery. The Vatican says it was part of a 1925 exhibition of tens of thousands of indigenous cultural artifacts sent by church missionaries from around the world, but the question of who made it, what community it came from and whether it was endowed is still unclear. Obed does not know all the details, but was told he was part of an appeal for examples of cultural expression against fascism, Nazism and racism in the early 20th century. “The kayak is beautiful,” Obed said. “It’s a wonderful expression of our culture and craftsmanship, and it was very nice to see it.” CLOCKS Métis and Inuit leaders describe meeting with Pope Francis:

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Mapelli has some records showing that the kayak came from Edmonton before going to the Vatican by boat across the Atlantic Ocean and showed no visible signs of wear as soon as it arrived. Obed said further discussions should be held on what happens next to the kayak and other cultural sites, including Mapeli’s connection to Smith. “I hope the best possible decisions can be made on these pieces, which are important,” Obed said. Other representatives, who want to see their cultural works repatriated, are upset with the way the Vatican presents their history and demand that they be involved in the decisions that will be made.

No mention of residential schools in the Indigenous report

The spokesman for the First Nations, Norman Yakeleya, whose traditional surname is Yakeula, from the Dene Nation in the Northwest Territories, said he was upset when he saw a sacred ritual pipe on display at the Vatican. “Some older people told me it was not for show,” Yakeleya said. “It was on the screen and it was something I did not feel good about. Yakeleya says the objects must be repatriated to their rightful owners: the ritual people. “They can make plastic models if they want, but they can give us the real thing,” said Yakeleya. “In the name of God, give them back to our people.” Norman Yakeleya, whose traditional surname is Yakeula, is a school survivor who would like to see Vatican artifacts returned to their communities. “They can make plastic models if they want, but they give us the truth,” he said. (Olivia Stefanovic / CBC)
Yakeleya is a home school survivor who attended the Grollier Roman Catholic Hall in Inuvik, in the Northwest Territories. When he entered the school doors at the age of five, he was given a number which was put on his shirts and glasses. One of the numbers given to him during the eight years he attended Grollier Hall was 153. “If they called 153, I would have to raise my hand and they would recognize me,” Yakelaya said. “Where in the world would they do that to a human being?” CLOCKS The cultural significance of indigenous objects in the Vatican Museums:

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Yakeleya was also disappointed that the new Anima Mundi report did not include any reference to Canada’s school housing system, day schools or racially segregated Indian hospitals. “They do not tell his story because we are here,” Yakelaya said. “A lot of people go through the Vatican Museum, but they should also be aware that there is a dark side to which they need to be exposed.”

The leader of Métis finished the tour “quite empty and unfulfilled”

Vatican Museum officials said in a statement that the administration “prefers not to answer” questions about the indigenous cultural property owned by the museum. But the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops said Mapeli spoke to delegates about his desire to work with them to learn more about the artifacts from Canada, to seek their guidance on what to return to local communities and what to do. to share with the museum’s seven. millions of annual visitors. Cassidy Caron, president of the National Council of Métis (MNC), asked the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops before traveling to Rome to work with the museum to obtain a list of all Indigenous artifacts, but was denied. “I felt quite prepared to get there,” Caron said. “When we arrived, really, I was very disappointed … We did not have the opportunity to go and find our articles and start identifying what might be there.” Outside the entrance to the Vatican Museums in Vatican City. (Olivia Stefanovic / CBC)
There was no glass to protect the objects and little information to explain the stories behind them. Caron said MNC wants to record all the items and find community members who can tell the stories behind the cultural items and a path to bring them home if their communities so wish. “It left me feeling pretty empty and unfulfilled,” Caron said. One of the directors of the museums kept telling the delegates that the cultural objects did not belong to the Vatican but that the museums were the custodians of the objects, Caron said. “I thought to myself, ‘Well, why can’t we be the custodians of our own objects?’ he said.