Singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie’s Indigenous heritage has disappeared from her online biography. Her official website no longer claims she is a Cree woman who was “probably” born in the Piapot First Nation in Saskatchewan.
The changes were made on buffysainte-marie.com just days after CBC published its Oct. 27 investigation questioning the singer’s Cree ancestry.
In her first statement to the public broadcaster since the investigation was published, Buffy Sainte-Marie wrote that she had removed material from her website to limit the criticism, threats and abuse that people who publicly defended her have since received Publication of the investigation.
“I have a duty to protect them,” his emailed statement said. And for that reason alone, I have limited my public engagement and removed facts from my website that you now want to use to stir up further controversy.
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According to the Wayback Machine, a digital website archive, Sainte-Marie was described twice as a “Cree singer-songwriter” in her bio on her website as recently as November 7.
Photo: Radio-Canada
Before making changes to her biography, it was said that the singer was the first Indigenous person to win an Oscar for writing the hit “Up Where We Belong.” [du film] A policeman and a gentleman [Officier et gentleman].
Additionally, it was written that she was named Philanthropist of the Year by Louis T. Delgado.
These two statements can no longer be found in her biography, as can this sentence: In today’s climate of harmful #fakenews and toxic hubris, Buffy Sainte-Marie’s incisive honesty, clarity and intelligent compassion stand out clearly. Relief.
Avoid confrontation?
Michelle Good, an author, retired lawyer and member of the Red Pheasant Cree Nation in Saskatchewan, recently wrote an article in the Toronto Star about the controversy surrounding the CBC investigation.
He was probably advised to remove them [références à l’indigénéité] “While the controversy rages,” Michelle Good said. She is probably trying to avoid a confrontation over receiving rewards to which she was not entitled.
However, according to Piapot First Nation interim chief Ira Lavallee, this confusion could be avoided through a DNA test that would clarify questions about Sainte-Maries’ ancestry.
“This is something that anyone in my community can do and would not be afraid of because we know who and what we are and this can be easily proven through a DNA test,” he argued.
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The interim chief of the Piapot First Nation, Ira Lavallee, wants Buffy Sainte-Marie to clarify the question of her indigenous origins through a DNA test.
Photo: Radio-Canada
If Buffy had done that, that would be one thing that could clear things up.
In an email, CBC asked Buffy Sainte-Marie her opinion on Ira Lavallee’s proposal.
She didn’t specifically answer this question. “The truth is, I don’t have to respond to you,” she wrote in her email Wednesday. Anyone who loves me knows who I am.
However, Ira Lavallée says the Buffy Sainte-Marie controversy made him and other members of the community rethink themselves.
I have nothing against Buffy [Sainte-Marie]”But it has made us take a closer look at who has legitimate ancestral ties to our community,” he acknowledged.
This whole affair has brought to light the question: Who are we? What is our place?
He claims that through this self-questioning he himself has clarified the connection to his ancestors: I can clearly define and prove who I am and where I come from.
The story of Buffy Sainte-Marie’s birth, childhood and identity has changed over the years. In fact, she initially identified herself as Algonquin and Mi’gmaw before saying she was Cree, adopted by a mother from Saskatchewan.
However, CBC has found her birth certificate, which shows that Buffy Sainte-Marie was born in Stoneham, Massachusetts in 1941.
Claims made by Delia Opekokew, a lawyer for Buffy Sainte-Marie, contained in an affidavit referenced by CBC, indicate that her mother from the Piapot First Nation voluntarily gave her up for adoption in the 1970s and 1980s handed over to an American family.
With information from Geoff Leo