Canadian R&B singer Jully Black was honored Monday night at an AFN Special Chiefs Assembly in Ottawa for making a change to Canada’s national anthem at the February NBA All-Star Game in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Black exchanged words at the NBA All-Star Game, singing “O Canada! Our home on homeland’
Jully Black received an eagle feather and blanket from the First Nations Assembly after changing Canada’s national anthem at the NBA All-Star Game in February.
Canadian R&B singer Jully Black was honored Monday night at an AFN Special Chiefs Assembly in Ottawa for making an appreciated change to Canada’s national anthem at the NBA All-Star Game in Salt Lake City, Utah in February.
The Juno Prize winner had a word in the customary opening line of the anthem, “O Canada! Our home and native land!” exchanged. with “O Canada! Our home on native land” to acknowledge the indigenous people who lived on the land before European settlers.
Black was presented with an eagle feather and wrapped in a blanket during a blanket ceremony by AFN Knowledge Keepers and National Chief RoseAnne Archibald.
The singer said she was “grateful” while holding back tears.
“I didn’t realize that my action would create such a response.”
Black continued, “On behalf of the Black community, I say we are one. We’re better together.”
After presenting the blanket and feather, Black repeated her performance O Canada for the gathering, again including “Heimat auf Heimatland” which elicited cheers from the crowd.
For more stories about Black Canadians’ experiences—from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community—see Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.
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