Assembly of First Nations honours Black for “O Canada” Lyric Change

Canadian R&B singer Jully Black was honoured at an AFN Special Chiefs Assembly in Ottawa on Monday night for the change she made to the Canadian national anthem at the NBA All-Star Game in Salt Lake City, Utah in February.

Black had changed one word while singing the anthem’s opening line “O Canada! Our home and native land!” with “O Canada! Our home on native land” to recognize the Indigenous peoples who lived on the land before European settlers.

She was presented with an eagle feather and wrapped with a blanket during a “Blanketing Ceremony” by AFN Knowledge Keepers and National Chief RoseAnne Archibald.

“I didn’t realize that my action would garner such a response,” she said.

After the presentation of the blanket and feather, Black sang her rendition of “O Canada” for the assembly, again including “home on native land,” which prompted cheers from the crowd.