Indigenous scholars like Kim TallBear, a professor of Native studies at the University of Alberta in Edmonton and a member of Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, say it’s unacceptable for non-Indigenous people to speak for Indigenous people and take honours set aside for them.
She is the latest high-profile public figure whose ancestry story has been contradicted by genealogical documentation, including her own birth certificate, historical research and personal accounts - the latest chapter in the complex and growing debate around Indigenous identity in Canada. Late last year, CBC received a tip that Sainte-Marie is not of Cree ancestry but, in fact, has European roots. However, almost 50 years after stepping onto Sesame Street, the iconic singer-songwriter’s claims to Indigenous ancestry are being contradicted by members of her own family and an extensive CBC investigation. In 2022, CBC broadcast a concert that was held in her honour at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, where Anishinabe musician ShoShona Kish told the audience: “Buffy Sainte-Marie has led the way for Indigenous music on this beautiful land since her first album.” She has also allowed herself to be celebrated as an Indigenous icon and success story.
From the early days of her career, Sainte-Marie has claimed to be a Cree woman, born in Canada.
