As a girlscout in Holland, 54 years ago I learned this beautiful song. Now just searching on you tube found this one. So sweet and touching. My 2 half indigenous daughters know the song as well and I will teach my granddaughter too!
"Land of the Silver Birch" is a traditional Canadian folk song. The lyrics of the song dates from the 1920s The lyrics are sometimes erroneously attributed to Pauline Johnson,perhaps in confusion with her well-known poem, "The Song My Paddle Sings." { }. It is sometimes sung to keep time while canoeing, and sometimes sung at campfires in a round. It is in Aeolian, or natural minor, but some have performed it with a raised sixth, creating a Dorian feel. In 2017, school administrators at the High Park Alternative Public School in Toronto, Ontario characterized the song as racist. In a letter to parents they said, "While its lyrics are not overtly racist . . . the historical context of the song is racist." Other experts disagreed with this assertion and the music teacher who had the song performed at a school concert sued the administration for defamation. This video has been created in response to the foolishness of the school administrators of High Park Alternative Public School of Toronto, Ontario!
Racist?, NO! This explains our ancient ancestors going through the change of the strangely made white mans modern world, which we all have adapted to, But In my eyes the great creator will lead us back to a new world of peace, Where we will be connected to nature once again, But for now we hold our traditional beliefs with pride!
I just don't understand why we can't find this song when we search for "top 10 most beautiful Canadian songs", for example ... None of the videos i watched had this song in.
I think it was second or third grade for me here in the United states. (1972 or 1973). I was thinking about the chorus and was wondering what song that was (that's what brought me here)
