Controversy Surrounds Buffy Sainte-Marie's Indigenous Heritage
A CBC report has raised questions about the indigenous heritage of singer/songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie, who has been celebrated as the first Indigenous person to win an Academy Award. The report obtained a birth certificate showing that Sainte-Marie was born to parents of European ancestry in Massachusetts, contradicting her claims of being born on Tribal land and adopted by white parents. Sainte-Marie responded by affirming her Indigenous identity and addressing allegations of sexual abuse by her brother. The report also highlighted inconsistencies in how Sainte-Marie has been identified with different Indigenous nations throughout her career.