The Vatican Museums hold a vast collection of Indigenous artifacts from countries such as Canada, causing concern for Indigenous delegates in Rome who wonder how these items ended up in the Vatican’s possession. Curator describes kayak records to Natan ObedThe backstory of how the kayak got to the Vatican is still a mystery. Obed said further conversations need to take place on what happens next to the kayak and other cultural pieces, which includes connecting Mapelli with Smith. “Where in the world would they do that to a human being?”WATCH | The cultural importance of Indigenous artifacts at Vatican Museums:Curator and professor Gerald McMaster, explains to Canada Tonight’s Ginella Massa why the Indigenous artifacts in the Vatican museum are so important to Indigenous people and to the process of reconciliation. One of the directors of the museums kept repeating to delegates that the cultural items do not belong to the Vatican but that the museums are the custodians of the items, Caron said.

Source: CBC News April 01, 2022 01:05 UTC