Reasonable people can debate what exactly history is but some things are beyond dispute. Legends unsupported by rigorous examination of the available evidence are not history. Boy’s-own adventure stories and tales of derring-do are not history. Airbrushed portraits of Great Men, lists of national triumphs, patriotic exhortations, schemes to inculcate national identity or pride — none of that is history. Not serious history, anyway.

And that is why we should be troubled by what, on the surface, looks like good news.

On Tuesday, Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore announced that the federal government will change the name of the Museum of Civilization to the “Canadian Museum of History” and refurbish its landmark building at a cost of $25 million. That’s not new money, which means cuts will have to be made in other parts of the heritage file. But still, it is at least a modest indication that the government thinks history is important. And in a country where historical awareness is abysmal and few politicians care — and even fewer are prepared to do something about it — that’s welcome.

I can understand why some prominent historians were on hand to applaud the announcement.

But this is more than an institutional facelift because underlying it will be legislative amendments that change the museum’s mandate. Of course we’ll have to wait to see the details to draw conclusions but there is more than enough reason to be concerned.

Consider the name. Read literally, it suggests a Canadian museum dedicated to history, not Canadian history. That would be in keeping with the Museum of Civilization’s mandate, which, as the name indicates, is to look at the human story, not merely the small portion of it that takes place in the top half of North America.

But the government’s news release and other statements make it clear that, despite the name, the new museum will only be about Canadian history. Of course there’s nothing wrong with that remit. In fact, it would be wonderful if the government created such a museum. But it isn’t. It’s taking an existing museum and chopping off part of its mandate — the part that covers the entire rest of humanity.

That is classic “little Canadian” parochialism.

But at least we’ll have the consolation of a newly refurbished museum of Canadian history, right? That’s something. If it comes to pass. And it may, depending on how the legislation is amended, and how seriously the museum’s leadership takes its mission. But early indications suggest there will be little history in this museum of history.

“The Canadian Museum of History will highlight the national achievements and accomplishments that have shaped our country,” reads the government’s press release, “including the ‘Last Spike’ from the construction of the Canada Pacific Railway, Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard’s hockey jersey, and items from Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope.” Sounds swell. But that describes an institution where fans come to worship their heroes and kids are taught to become fans. It is not a museum of history. It is a Hall of Fame.