At Sunday’s NBA All-Star game, Canadian R&B singer Jully Black changed the national anthem from “our home and native land” to “our home on native land,” emphasizing the word “on.” Black believes this change should be permanent and told The Canadian Press: “I wouldn’t have sung it if I didn’t believe it should be this.” She had discussed the lyrics with her indigenous friends beforehand and said she was singing it with intention.
The national anthem has seen other changes in recent years. In 2018, it became more gender-neutral when “in all thy sons command” officially became “in all of us command.” This change was initiated by Liberal MP Mauril Belanger. In 2016, at an MLB All-Star game, a member of The Tenors changed the lyrics to include the words “all lives matter,” which is often used in reaction to “black lives matter.” Remigio Pereira changed “with glowing hearts we see thee rise, the true north strong and free” to “we’re all brothers and sisters, all lives matter to the great.” The Tenors apologized and Pereira was ousted from the group.
The Canadian Press contributed to this report.