Canada Revokes Order of Canada From Buffy Sainte-Marie Over Fabricated Indigenous Heritage

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Canada Revokes Order of Canada From Buffy Sainte-Marie Over Fabricated Indigenous Heritage
Buffy Sainte-MarieOrder Of CanadaIndigenous Heritage
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Singer Buffy Sainte-Marie has had her Order of Canada revoked following a 2023 investigation that revealed she fabricated claims of Indigenous ancestry. The Canadian government made the decision after finding evidence contradicting Sainte-Marie's long-held assertions.

The Canadian government has revoked the Order of Canada from singer Buffy Sainte-Marie , stripping her of one of the country's highest honors. The decision, announced on January 3rd, came after a 2023 investigation that cast doubt on Sainte-Marie's claims of Indigenous ancestry. While the Canadian government did not publicly disclose its reasons for the decision, the move followed a report that revealed Sainte-Marie had fabricated her Indigenous heritage.

Known for her 1964 anti-war anthem 'Universal Soldier' and for co-writing the Academy Award-winning song 'Up Where We Belong,' Sainte-Marie received the Order of Canada in 1997 for her services to Indigenous Canadians. Her entry in the Order of Canada's records stated that Sainte-Marie had identified as Cree from the Piapot First Nation in Saskatchewan since the early 1960s and was widely recognized as a significant Indigenous artist. In a 1988 interview with NPR, Sainte-Marie expressed her belief that there was a lack of other folk musicians addressing Indigenous issues when she began her career. She saw her music as a way to educate the public and bridge the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.The 2023 investigation, however, revealed that Sainte-Marie's birth certificate listed her as Beverly Jean Santamaria, born in Massachusetts to white parents. She acknowledged in a statement that her mother, who was proud of her Mi'kmaq heritage, had told her she was adopted and native. Sainte-Marie also revealed details about her upbringing that she had previously kept private, including the possibility that she was born on the 'wrong side of the blanket,' a term referring to the historical practice of placing Indigenous children in residential schools. Despite her uncertainties about her heritage, Sainte-Marie maintained that she had always been truthful about the lack of information she possessed regarding her roots. Since its establishment in 1967, the Order of Canada has recognized over 7,600 individuals for their extraordinary contributions to the nation

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