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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
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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.

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Culture

Heritage Commission Revives Al-Nasb Heritage District as Abha Cultural Tourism Destination

The district’s significance lies in its unique architectural composition - SPA
The district’s significance lies in its unique architectural composition - SPA
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Heritage Commission Revives Al-Nasb Heritage District as Abha Cultural Tourism Destination

The district’s significance lies in its unique architectural composition - SPA
The district’s significance lies in its unique architectural composition - SPA

Al-Nasb Heritage District in Abha is one of the most prominent living examples of traditional architecture in Aseer Region, preserving its long history and architectural details that embody people’s connection to their local environment and document the social and cultural patterns that have shaped the identity of the place across generations.

The district’s significance lies in its unique architectural composition, where mud and stone buildings stand side by side in visual harmony. They were built using local materials such as stone, clay, and juniper trunks, while the narrow alleyways and closely set buildings give the district a cohesive social character that reflects the spirit of past communities in the region and the close relationship between people and place.

The Heritage Commission has revived the district through an integrated restoration and rehabilitation project aimed at preserving its original elements and enhancing its sustainability, as part of national efforts to protect urban heritage and highlight it as a cultural and tourism asset, SPA reported.

The site is also distinguished by its natural setting, as the district overlooks the banks of Abha Valley and surrounding farms, giving it a distinctive visual and aesthetic dimension. Its narrow passageways and closely set buildings illustrate a traditional urban pattern that strengthens ties among residents and captures the nature of social life in that era.

The district is now a growing destination for culture and tourism in Abha, attracting visitors and heritage enthusiasts who come to explore the details of authentic architecture and learn about the traditional ways of life that have shaped Aseer Region’s identity across generations. The project helps raise awareness of the importance of preserving archaeological sites as a key pillar in forming national memory.

The project is part of the Kingdom’s efforts to protect and effectively manage cultural heritage, in line with the targets of Saudi Vision 2030, which gives special attention to the cultural sector. It seeks to turn heritage sites into vibrant spaces that support cultural tourism and sustainable development while reconnecting society with its historical roots.

Culture

Saudi Heritage Commission Enforces Strict Penalties Against Antiquities Violators

The fines varied according to the nature and circumstances of each violation
The fines varied according to the nature and circumstances of each violation
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Saudi Heritage Commission Enforces Strict Penalties Against Antiquities Violators

The fines varied according to the nature and circumstances of each violation
The fines varied according to the nature and circumstances of each violation

The Saudi Heritage Commission announced financial fines against 11 violators for dealing in portable antiquities without obtaining the required regulatory licenses, as part of its ongoing efforts to protect cultural heritage in the Kingdom and enhance compliance with regulations governing the sector.

The commission clarified that the violations involved displaying and selling antiquities on online platforms without registering or documenting them with the Heritage Commission or obtaining the necessary licenses, in explicit violation of the provisions of the Law of Antiquities, Museums and Urban Heritage.

The fines varied according to the nature and circumstances of each violation, reaching up to SAR15,000 in some cases.

The commission reaffirmed its commitment to monitoring violations related to heritage sites and collections across the Kingdom and taking the necessary legal and regulatory actions against all those proven to have contravened the regulations.

The Heritage Commission called on all citizens and residents to report any violations or non-compliant practices related to heritage sites or collections through its social media channels, by visiting its branches across the Kingdom, through the Archaeological Site Reporting platform, or by contacting the unified security operations center at 911.

Culture

Holy Quran Museum Showcases Rare 18th-Century Brass-Engraved Copy of the Quran

Among the museum’s distinctive exhibits is a copy of the Quran engraved on brass plates dating back to the 12th century AH - SPA
Among the museum’s distinctive exhibits is a copy of the Quran engraved on brass plates dating back to the 12th century AH - SPA
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Holy Quran Museum Showcases Rare 18th-Century Brass-Engraved Copy of the Quran

Among the museum’s distinctive exhibits is a copy of the Quran engraved on brass plates dating back to the 12th century AH - SPA
Among the museum’s distinctive exhibits is a copy of the Quran engraved on brass plates dating back to the 12th century AH - SPA

The Holy Quran Museum in the Hira Cultural District in Makkah offers a rich cultural and knowledge experience, enabling visitors to explore the history of the Holy Quran and its sciences, and view rare manuscripts and artifacts documenting the journey of its transcription through the ages, reflecting the care Muslims have given to the Holy Quran since the dawn of Islam to the present day, SPA reported.

Among the museum’s distinctive exhibits is a copy of the Quran engraved on brass plates dating back to the 12th century AH (18th century CE), showcasing the precision and mastery achieved in Islamic arts and the special attention given to Quranic transcription, combining beauty and scholarly accuracy.

This artwork embodies a continuation of deep-rooted traditions in Islamic calligraphy and decorative arts, utilizing various materials and techniques from parchment and paper to metals, highlighting Muslims’ profound connection to the Holy Quran and their commitment to preserving it in artistic forms that combine creativity and reverence.