Vatican Returns to Canada Artifacts Connected to Indigenous People

A pair of gauntlets made in the late 19th-century Cree-Metif native Canadian traditional style by indigenous activist Gregory Scofield. Gregory Scofield, AP
A pair of gauntlets made in the late 19th-century Cree-Metif native Canadian traditional style by indigenous activist Gregory Scofield. Gregory Scofield, AP
TT

Vatican Returns to Canada Artifacts Connected to Indigenous People

A pair of gauntlets made in the late 19th-century Cree-Metif native Canadian traditional style by indigenous activist Gregory Scofield. Gregory Scofield, AP
A pair of gauntlets made in the late 19th-century Cree-Metif native Canadian traditional style by indigenous activist Gregory Scofield. Gregory Scofield, AP

The Vatican on Saturday returned 62 artifacts connected to the Indigenous peoples of Canada to the country's Catholic bishops, offering what it called "a concrete sign of dialogue, respect and fraternity", a statement said.

Pope Leo gifted the objects to the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops following a meeting with their representatives including their president, Bishop Pierre Goudreault, said Reuters.

"The CCCB will proceed, as soon as possible, to transfer these artifacts to the National Indigenous Organizations (NIOs). The NIOs will then ensure that the artifacts are reunited with their communities of origin," the Canadian bishops said.

Catholic missionaries sent the artifacts to Rome on the occasion of a 1925 exhibition held by Pope Pius XI that displayed more than 100,000 objects. Nearly half of them later formed a new Missionary Ethnological Museum and were transferred to the Vatican Museums in the 1970s.

In 2022, the late Pope Francis issued a historic apology to Canada's Indigenous peoples ahead of his visit to the country for the Catholic Church's role in residential schools where many children suffered abuse and were buried in unmarked graves.

The repatriation of the native artifacts held at the Vatican Museums was also part of the talks between the Church and the Indigenous leaders.



Saudi Pavilion at Makkah's Global Village Showcases the Kingdom’s Culture

Saudi Pavilion at Makkah's Global Village Showcases the Kingdom’s Culture
TT

Saudi Pavilion at Makkah's Global Village Showcases the Kingdom’s Culture

Saudi Pavilion at Makkah's Global Village Showcases the Kingdom’s Culture

The Saudi pavilion at Global Village in Makkah, part of the Makkah winter season, reflects the richness and uniqueness of the Kingdom's culture and heritage.

It features interactive and engaging sections that introduce visitors to the Kingdom’s cultural heritage, including live demonstrations of traditional handicrafts and artwork inspired by the local environment, SPA reported.

The pavilion’s presence at Global Village reflects ongoing efforts to highlight the nation’s cultural heritage, promote its civilizational legacy, and strengthen its cultural presence at major events.


Culinary Arts Commission Joins 17th Klija Festival in Buraidah as Strategic Partner

Culinary Arts Commission Joins 17th Klija Festival in Buraidah as Strategic Partner
TT

Culinary Arts Commission Joins 17th Klija Festival in Buraidah as Strategic Partner

Culinary Arts Commission Joins 17th Klija Festival in Buraidah as Strategic Partner

The Culinary Arts Commission is participating as a strategic partner in the 17th Klija Festival, held in the city of Buraidah and running until January 17, under the patronage of Qassim Region Governor Prince Dr. Faisal bin Mishaal.

The commission’s involvement comes as part of its strategy to support events and festivals specializing in Saudi culinary arts by highlighting national and regional dishes and showcasing the Kingdom’s culinary and cultural diversity, SPA reported.

The festival features several zones and interactive activities aimed at supporting families working in the cottage industry and local artisans who produce Klija, while introducing visitors to its history and authenticity as a regional dish of Qassim, in addition to offering live demonstrations and unique interactive experiences.

During the festival, the commission is also presenting a selection of books available for viewing and purchase.


Jeddah’s Red Sea Museum Announces January Cultural Program

The program's themes span traditional architecture, historical photography, music, travel literature, and the history of navigation and public health in the Red Sea. (SPA)
The program's themes span traditional architecture, historical photography, music, travel literature, and the history of navigation and public health in the Red Sea. (SPA)
TT

Jeddah’s Red Sea Museum Announces January Cultural Program

The program's themes span traditional architecture, historical photography, music, travel literature, and the history of navigation and public health in the Red Sea. (SPA)
The program's themes span traditional architecture, historical photography, music, travel literature, and the history of navigation and public health in the Red Sea. (SPA)

Jeddah's Red Sea Museum announced the launch of its public program for January 2026, featuring a series of artistic workshops, cultural talks, live performances, and family activities. The program aims to connect the Red Sea's cultural heritage with contemporary creative practices, catering to various segments of society.

The program's themes span traditional architecture, historical photography, music, travel literature, and the history of navigation and public health in the Red Sea. These activities are presented through a cultural and educational agenda held across the museum's facilities and venues in Historic Jeddah.

The program begins on Tuesday, with a workshop titled "Junior Cartographers" in the Discovery Room, where children aged 6 to 12 will explore the art of mapmaking and the fundamentals of navigation through an engaging, interactive approach. On January 15, the "Alchemy of Light: Albumen Prints" workshop will be held at the auditorium, highlighting the historical albumen printing technique using egg whites and silver salts, and exploring 19th-century photography aesthetics through a contemporary perspective.

On January 17, a talk about Historic Jeddah will discuss traditional architecture and its relationship to heritage and modernity. This will be followed on January 18, by the "Navigation from Past to Present" workshop at the auditorium, offering an interactive experience that explores the evolution of navigation methods through hands-on artistic and practical activities.

On January 22, the program includes the screening of the animated film "The Menace from Above" at the auditorium. Later that evening, Bab Al-Bunt Courtyard will host the Al Nour Wal Amal Orchestra, the world's only musical ensemble composed entirely of blind female musicians who perform using Braille musical notation, in a performance celebrating art, resilience, and diversity.

On January 23, an artist talk titled "The Gate of Gates" will be held in Historic Jeddah, documenting the transformations of the Bab Al-Bunt building and the human stories connected to this historic space. On January 28, the auditorium will host a talk titled "Encounters: Travel Literature," exploring journeys to Andalusia and Sicily and how Islamic heritage continues to live on through people and places.

The program concludes on January 31, with a lecture examining the development of quarantine systems and public health monitoring in the Red Sea, highlighting the historical role of Bab Al-Bunt as a quarantine center for pilgrims.

The Red Sea Museum's activities serve as a cultural and knowledge platform dedicated to documenting the Red Sea's tangible, intangible, and natural heritage, and presenting it through educational and interactive programs that foster dialogue between the past and the present, linking heritage with contemporary creative contexts from its headquarters in Historic Jeddah.