This is a mistake

After years of pressure, the Vatican will be returning Indigenous artifacts back to Canada, to be entrusted into the care of the Canadian Council of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), with some to be sent to the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau.

That's a mistake.

Having them showcased at the Vatican meant they were exposed to millions of people worldwide.  They were given the respect they deserved, but what will the CCCB do with them?  I have no clue, but I bet they won't be there for long because the families from whence they came say they want them back.

After complex negotiations, 100,000 such artifacts are finally set to return home, but their fate is at stake because what will the families whose ancestors donated them do with them?  Will they end up in someone's shack on a reserve?  Will internal family scabbling and law suits erupt over which descendents should have them?  Should they go to the maternal side, or the paternal?  All this could very well happen because Indigenous leaders will not stand for them to be housed in a federal museum in Ottawa, or a church basement.  They just won't.

So, history is being re-written, as these treasures will be scattered hither and yon and who knows what will befall them?

Magnificent Indigenous gloves currently in the Vatican museum.

As I said, it's a mistake.  They should remain in the Vatican as embodiments of the history of Canada, its Indigenous culture and controversial relationship with the Catholic Church.