When it came time for Jully Black to sing the Canadian national anthem at Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game in Utah, the Toronto singer made a subtle change to the anthem that honoured the land on which Indigenous lived before European settlers colonized North America.
Black changed the opening line that reads “O Canada! Our home and native land” to “O Canada! our home on native land” emphasizing the “on” to highlight the small but important change to the anthem that’s nearly 150 years old.
“I sang the facts,” Black told The National on Monday. We are walking, breathing, living, experiencing life on native land. On Indigenous land.”
In a brief interview with The Shift, Black added that she “dissected the lyrics, to really sing it with intention.”
@JullyBlack "I really dissected the lyrics, to really sing it with intention." @JullyBlack did her research, reaching out to Indigenous community members, before performing the Canadian anthem.
Chuck D was one of many on Twitter who took to social media to praise the veteran R&B singer.
My girl @JullyBlack just kicked the most soulful O Canada 🇨🇦 i ever heard at 2023 #NBAAllStar game
Shortly after, Black quoted Chuck D’s tweet to express her gratitude.
Your love means the WORLD to me! You’ve been #ThatGuy to impact change and educate to elevate us all! This is less about me and more about being apart of the change in any way I can! Love you Bro ❤️
Inuk throat singer Tanya Tagaq quoted a tweet that highlighted Black’s change to show her approval.
❤️❤️❤️
One Twitter user even captured the moment Black started singing and cut it into a “Canadian Heritage Moments” frame.
Jully Black singing 'our home ON native land' is a Canadian Heritage Moment #NBAAllStar
Black released her latest album, Three Rocks and a Slingshot, in 2022.
