Canada missing 111 Indigenous artworks from federal collection

The Canadian federal government has failed to locate 111 Indigenous artworks from its collection, nearly two years after an internal audit initially identified 132 unaccounted-for items. The Indigenous Art Centre collection, established in 1965 to preserve works from First Nations, Métis, and Inuit artists, is valued at approximately $14.4 million and includes pieces by renowned artists such as Kent Monkman and Norval Morrisseau.

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada spokesperson Jacinthe Goulet stated that the department has accounted for 17 of the missing pieces and identified four others as potential duplicate database entries. Officials are currently searching regional federal buildings to find the remaining works.

The audit, which tracked operations from April 2019 to August 2024, highlighted security risks following the 2022 relocation of the collection to temporary private storage during renovations. The report warned that mishandling these culturally significant pieces could damage the department’s reputation and erode trust with Indigenous communities.