Arrr! A scurvy scallywag claims the star be not truly o' Indigenous blood in a shocking report, matey!
2023-11-16
Arr, 'tis said, mateys, that the minstrel Buffy Sainte-Marie be a sly lass, claimin' she be an Indigenous soul. But alas, documents and scallywags talkin' from her bloodline reveal the truth, it be naught but a deceitful tale!
One of Canada's most well-known Indigenous figures, Buffy Sainte-Marie, may not actually be Indigenous, according to recent media reports. Sainte-Marie, who is famous for being the first Indigenous person to win an Oscar, has claimed to be a Cree Indian born in Canada and adopted by an American family. However, an investigation by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp (CBC) found evidence to the contrary.The investigation uncovered contradictory statements made by Sainte-Marie about her Indigenous heritage, including early articles in which she was described as belonging to different native groups. Family members, including Sainte-Marie's older brother's daughter, Heidi St. Marie, also expressed doubts about her Indigenous claims. They said that Sainte-Marie was born in the United States and is not Indigenous or Native American.
CBC obtained documents, including Sainte-Marie's birth certificate, which showed that she was born a White female in Stoneham, Massachusetts, to parents of Italian and English ancestry. Sainte-Marie has defended her heritage, stating that she is a proud member of the Native community with deep roots in Canada.
In 2022, PBS reported that Sainte-Marie was taken from her family against their will as part of a practice in Canada known as the Sixties Scoop, where Native children were removed from their homes and assigned new identities. Sainte-Marie said that adoptive people often don't know the true story of their birth.
CBC confirmed the authenticity of Sainte-Marie's birth certificate by visiting the town where it was issued. The town clerk showed them the original birth certificate, which was signed by the same doctor who delivered Sainte-Marie's sister to the same parents that Sainte-Marie claimed to be adopted by.
The revelation about Sainte-Marie's heritage has caused controversy and raised questions about her previous claims and the authenticity of her Indigenous identity.