My initial reaction to the news about Jully Black changing the O Canada lyrics was "They show O Canada during the NBA All-Star Game?" As readers of our MLB section would know, MLB and Fox Sports have been incessantly obnoxious in refusing to show O Canada to U.S. viewers.
The Tenors changed O Canada before the 2016 All-Star Game. The group kicked out Remigio Pereira for changing the lyrics on his own to a slam against Black Lives Matter. Even in that case, the American audience, should they have seen the anthem, would have been like "those aren't the words."
Jully Black changed the lyrics from "our home and native land" to "our home on native land" to reflect the original Indigenous settlers in what is now Canada.
A subtle and meaningful change. The vocal differences between "and" and "on" means you could slip it in without people noticing. Good on Jully Black to start out the conversation.
“if there was a white face singing the anthem and changed that word, white Canada… would act more quickly… policies would be changing right now.” @JullyBlack on whether the words of the Canadian national anthem should change permanently. she’s right!!! https://t.co/XScDKSkUf9
— Kathleen Newman-Bremang (@KathleenNB) February 22, 2023
Senate finally passes gender-neutral O Canada bill
The English language version changed in 2018 going from "True patriot love in all thy sons command" to "True patriot love in all of us command."
The change, approved in 2018, was brought up by Liberal MP Mauril Bélanger, who introduced a private member's bill (defined as not coming from the government in power). The House of Commons passed the bill in June 2016. Bélanger passed away from Lou Gehrig’s disease on August 15, 2016.
The extensive delay came from conservative senators who delayed the passage until 2018.
O Canada became the country's national anthem in 1980.
Unlike the English version, the French version hasn't changed in awhile: The French version starts out: "O Canada, Terre de nos aïeux." This essentially translates into "Land of our ancestors." The definition of nos | ours would be the concern. Is it "ours" in the sense of Jacques Cartier, the first European to "discover" what is now Quebec City and Montréal.
Quebecers of European descent likely think of Cartier, even if the wording changes. Nos is subjective and not objective so interpretations can vary.
Even though this line is a basic translation of the English language version, most of the French version is not a translation of the English version.
MLB, Rob Manfred, MLB on Fox need to stop disrespecting Canada
Preaching patriotism on anthems easier when you sing the words
Empathy for Bélanger might have been more of a motivator to get the gender neutral language changed for O Canada. There are fewer conservative senators by any name in the Canadian Senate than there were back then.
The hostility against a needed change would certainly be a force in future adaptations.
CanadianCrossing.com Indigenous coverage
We talk often about groups going for more and better representation in Canadian society needing allies in their battles. Black made a strong point that you don't have to be Indigenous to make this point about "native land."
CanadianCrossing.com NBA coverage
The NBA finally expanded into Canada in 1995 with the Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies. The Grizzlies left Vancouver after the 2000-2001 season.
The open hostility by the NBA against the Canadian teams was exclusive and legendary. Both Canadian teams were denied access to the top five picks in the first draft. The teams were not allowed a top draft pick in the following 3 seasons, even if they won the lottery. The teams were prohibited from using their full salary cap for the first 2 seasons.
The NBA has only had a single All-Star Game on Canadian soil in 2016 at what was then Air Canada Centre in Toronto.
Transplant, Sort Of win top TV honours at 2022 Canadian Screen Awards
Jully Black is more than just a top Canadian musician. Black got a 2022 Canadian Screen Award nomination for her portrayal of Nina Francis on Diggstown. Black lost out to Tamara Podemski on Coroner for Best Guest Performance, Drama Series.
video credit: YouTube/NBA
Twitter capture: @KathleenNB
photo credit: me
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