Canada’s national anthem

Dear Asarial,

I’m writing to you about a petition from Andrea, who is calling on the federal Minister of Heritage, Pablo Rodriguez, to amend the lyrics of the national anthem to acknowledge that the land we live on rightfully belongs to Indigenous people.

Here’s a brief explanation of the campaign:

Singer Jully Black opened up a crucial conversation when she sang a version of “O Canada” in which she swapped the words “our home and native land” for “our home on Native land”. [1,2]

Black’s spontaneous lyric change reflects the reality of Indigenous Nations in this country. First Peoples are the title holders to the vast majority of lands and waters in Canada. Many Canadians already substitute “and” for “on” in singing “our home on Native land.”

I join Jully Black in calling for an amendment to the national anthem so that the lyrics honour the sovereignty of First Nations, Indigenous, and Inuit peoples.

The change from “and” to “on” is a small amendment, but it could become a significant symbol of Canada’s commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous people – a commitment that is in need of reaffirmation. It has been over seven years since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission issued its final report, yet in that time only 13 of the TRC’s 94 calls to action have been completed. [3]

Changing the national anthem to acknowledge Indigenous land rights would be a small step towards addressing the unjust treatment of Indigenous people in this country. Will you sign the petition to update the national anthem now?

Here’s more information about the campaign calling on Minister Rodriguez to amend “O Canada”:

Over 50% of Canada’s lands and waters belong to Nations who have never signed a treaty or surrendered their territory. 89% of Canadian lands known as “Crown Lands” exist on territory that Indigenous Peoples have never ceded or surrendered. [4]

In signing historic treaties, Indigenous Nations did not give up land ownership. Signatories to the numbered treaties understood that the land would be shared. Despite that, land set aside for Indigenous Nations makes up just 0.2% of land in Canada.

In singing “Home ON Native Land” in classrooms across the country, children will be taught that, though they make their homes here, they do so thanks to Indigenous Nations whose laws, customs, and governance systems have sustained the land and its inhabitants since time immemorial.

There’s a clear precedent for this amendment. Just a few years ago in 2018, the Senate slightly altered another lyric in “O Canada,” officially changing “all thy sons” to “all of us” to include people of all genders. [5] It’s time our government show that same respect for Indigenous rights.

Expressing national pride while claiming this as our native land only adds insult to the injuries of centuries of settler colonialism. As we work to heal those injuries, we must also update our language to respect Indigenous rights. Asarial, will you sign the petition now?

https://you.leadnow.ca/petitions/o-canada-it-s-time-to-change-the-national-anthem

In solidarity,
Rivka, on behalf of the Leadnow team

Sources:
[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64722763
[2] https://www.cbc.ca/arts/our-home-on-native-land-how-one-small-lyric-change-caught-the-country-s-attention-1.6755412
[3] https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2022/12/14/at-this-rate-canada-wont-meet-truth-and-reconciliation-calls-until-2065-report-suggests.html
[4] https://www.nationalobserver.com/2020/01/24/analysis/what-we-mean-when-we-say-indigenous-land-unceded
[5] https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/anthem-bill-passes-senate-1.4513317