(The following letter was sent to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and copied to Coast Reporter.)
Prime Minister:
My name is Robbie McEvoy and it is my distinct honour to live in the paradise of Canada – Sechelt, British Columbia. Shíshálh is the ancient territory of the Sechelt people. Their band lands are intricately interwoven with the District of Sechelt and the hearts of its non-native residents.
More than 30 years ago, I was accepted into this community with open arms. As a barber, I have had the privilege of serving many of these amazing people – both native and non-native – by providing everything from first to final haircuts. This has shaped my life in ways I could not have imagined, for while I’ve been cutting hair, I’ve also listened to the histories of the Sechelt people – their joys, pain and suffering.
This year, as we celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday, I feel strongly that we should also be honouring 150 years of cohabiting with our country’s indigenous peoples. To this end, I have a one-word request that I believe will reshape the relationship between native and non-native peoples, and the government of Canada. A word that would go a long way toward honouring those truly original Canadians who welcomed strangers to their lands without realizing the tragic losses they would suffer as a result of their generosity. A word that could create a fresh way of looking at our past and hopefully our future, and of addressing the manner in which the customs, languages and land ownership of these indigenous people were devalued. One little word that could encourage a respectful partnership and honour both a government that has had considerable growing pains and the generous hearts of all Canadians.
The word I request is “on.” I request that it be inserted in the second line of our national anthem in place of the word “and,” so that the first two lines would read, “O Canada! Our home on native land.”
I have been replacing “and” with “on” for a great number of years, standing shoulder to shoulder with Sechelt natives as we sang our national anthem, and the change always felt appropriate. “On native land” connotes a partnership, a joint vision of the past, present and future. It does not ask to be deserved, justified or debated. We do live, love and laugh on native land. All of us.
In contrast, when I sing the official version of “O Canada,” the “and” feels like that complicated relative who just can’t be explained to anyone outside the family. It is a strange mixture of love, lies and half-truths and pride.
I know one simple word cannot erase the trauma that the native people of Canada have endured. I only wish to have a longstanding fact acknowledged. If the whole country were to sing this truth, I would like to shift Canadian hearts, and souls. We would be a country that accepts uncomfortable truths and when we sing “O Canada,” we would be expressing our truth – our past, present and future – for all to see, and hear.
Robbie McEvoy, Sechelt
