Photo Gallery: Indigenous artifacts repatriated from the Vatican

By Canadian Press on February 25, 2026.

Métis leaders Wednesday unveiled a model dog sled repatriated to their communities after more than a century in the Vatican collection.

The sled, made in the 1920s of leather, wood and glass beads, was one of 62 items repatriated to Indigenous Peoples from the Vatican last year after decades of calls for their return.

Métis National Council president Victoria Pruden compared the model’s return to reuniting with a long-lost grandparent.

Inuit leaders unveiled their own repatriated items in December, including a rare kayak made of driftwood, sealskin and sinew.

Here is a look at some scenes from the unveiling ceremonies.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 25, 2026.

The Canadian Press