CORRECTION: This story has been updated to correct information regarding the halting of DEI initiatives by the Ford Motor Company.

When the lord mayor took the podium, he pulled out his phone and haltingly read these words:

“We begin by acknowledging that the land on which we gather is the traditional and highly significant spiritual place of the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee people, many of whom continue to live here today. This traditional gathering place is covered under the Upper Canada Treaty and is within the land protected by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum agreement.”

It was Remembrance Day. Before the iconic town cenotaph, the veterans, the soldiers, the band and the crowd of citizens — in honour of those who served and died in world wars, Korea, peacekeeping and now.

What the Dish with One Spoon agreement of 1701 had to do with this moment — and why the Anishinaabe folks were mentioned before the fallen — was unclear.

By the way, this is also how town council meetings in NOTL begin. First the tribal acknowledgement and after that the national anthem.

In August the busy-bee NOTL Museum held a Heritage Festival with displays of antique local maps, clothing, tools and fascinating weaponry (men turn into historians when they can see things that explode).

Entertaining the throng were four musicians and singers. When I passed by, their lyrics were of “murders of women and children” and the “complete genocide” of Indigenous people.

That was jarring. As it was meant to be, no doubt.

It also seemed weird at an event meant to celebrate the very long and deep history of a place that was the capital of Canada, where Parliament met under a tree and where we (redcoats, townsfolk and Indigenous allies) battled the evil Yanks (We lost. The house I now live in was torched).

Being a troublemaker, I asked the museum’s managing director, Sarah Kaufman, why the death song was sung. There is a place for reconciliation and blame. This happy festival did not seem to be it.

Sarah responded:

“The NOTL Museum is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. As part of that, we have decided to address tough topics of black history and enslavement … as well as the uncomfortable Indigenous history of Canada. Every country has positive history as well as negative history. I believe we cannot understand the history of our country, and be proud of how far we have come as a society, without knowing the full history — good and bad.”

Diversity, equity and inclusion, known as DEI, has turned into a testy political issue. It played a starring role in the U.S. election, which rocked America, and is now heavily influencing the polarized situation here.

For years governments have heavily promoted DEI initiatives, as have universities and corporations. It’s to bolster representation by women and minority groups, the racialized and economically disadvantaged.

But using DEI to refocus history — or even rewrite it — is an interesting twist.

DEI is now under assault. Ford just ended its plan four years after the death of George Floyd propelled it forward. Lowe’s, Harley-Davidson, John Deere, Walmart, Jack Daniel’s and other U.S. employers follow.

Corporations shamed and embarrassed during COVID-19 for lacking a policy of social justice are scrambling to pivot as customers (and voters) change.

The new U.S. vice-president, JD Vance, introduced a “Dismantle DEI” bill into Congress. Over a dozen states are throwing out DEI statutes.

In Washington, a federal House Office of Diversity and Inclusion was disbanded. Now the debate’s ripping apart schools. At the nearby University of Michigan, leaders are dumping DEI programs and hiring guidelines, amid chaos.

Is it time to rethink?

We should respect each other, of course, and the past. But let’s be more proud than ashamed. Maybe sing the anthem first. And not surrender with a shrug what others died for.

Garth Turner is a NOTL resident, journalist, author, wealth manager and former federal MP and minister. garth@garth.ca