'I sang the facts,' says Jully Black about 1-word change to O Canada at NBA All-Star game

Jully Black says the subtle change she made to the lyrics of O Canada at Sunday's NBA All-Star game was the result of a long reflection.

"I sang the facts. We are walking, breathing, living, experiencing life on native land. On Indigenous land," the Juno award-winning R&B singer told The National on Monday.

Black performed the national anthem before the game in Salt Lake City, Utah, and altered one line to recognize the Indigenous peoples who lived on the land before European settlers.

Black swapped out the anthem's usual opening line "O Canada, our home and native land," with "O Canada, our home on native land," adding a slight emphasis to the word "on" when she sang.

The new lyrics appeared to draw a largely positive reaction on social media, where some viewers praised Black's revised lyrics, and many used the hashtag #OurHomeOnNativeLand. 

On YouTube, where the NBA posted a video of Black's rendition, she received more praise. Many commenters said they were proud.

"Jully took Utah to church," wrote one commenter.

Black became emotional as she recounted how a close friend, who is Indigenous, reacted to her lyrics.

"I didn't know how much this would mean to him. But now I do. And to every person who has lived generationally through being Indigenous, and just want the world to know that their lived experience matters."

Isaiah Shafqat, a Mi'kmaq student and Indigenous student trustee with the Toronto District School Board, praised the change to the lyrics.

"It was exciting. It was a shock, because, you know, Indigenous people, we listen to O Canada and we always hear 'home and native land.' And that's not true," he told The National.

A number of people on Twitter commended Black's performance, including rapper Chuck D, a member of U.S. hip-hop group Public Enemy:

"My girl @JullyBlack just kicked the most soulful O Canada I ever heard at 2023 #NBAAllStar game," he tweeted.

But some people criticized Black's revision, with one user on social media saying she was "just creating controversy," and another saying it was "absolutely disgraceful."