A group of Indigenous women is calling for Buffy Sainte-Marie to lose her Juno award for Indigenous album of the year, after a CBC report raised doubts about the singer’s ancestry.
“We invite the Juno Awards committee to revisit this 2018 category and explore ways to right a past wrong. All Indigenous artists in this category 2018 […] should be reconsidered for this honor that belongs to them,” said the Native Women’s Group in a press release on Sunday evening.
The Native Women’s Group, which describes itself as a group of mothers, grandmothers, academics and activists fighting to end colonial violence against Indigenous women, said it reviewed the CBC story and watched the show The Fifth Estate, broadcast Friday. He believes that Mme Sainte-Marie misled the public about her origins as a “survivor of the indigenous roundup.”
The group said the deception allowed it to benefit from a false narrative that misled thousands of Indigenous people.
“We recognize that Buffy Sainte-Marie was traditionally adopted by the Piapot family 60 years ago under the sacred laws of the Cree of Wahkotowin. We respect the privacy of her family, friends, colleagues and admirers, as well as their decision to remain supportive and loving towards her,” the collective said in the statement.
“We understand that traditional adoption carries great responsibilities, it does not allow anyone to falsely claim their identity of indigenous origin. Being adopted into an Indigenous family and community does not authorize anyone to speak for all of our people,” the group adds.
CBC obtained M’s birth certificateme Sainte-Marie, which indicates that she was born in 1941 in Stoneham, Massachusetts, to Albert and Winifred Sainte-Marie. The document lists the baby and parents as white and includes the signature of a treating physician.
CBC said Ms.’s marriage certificateme Sainte-Marie, a life insurance policy and the U.S. Census corroborate the information on the birth certificate.
Family members in the United States, including M’s younger sisterme Sainte-Marie, also told CBC that the musician was not adopted and did not have Indigenous ancestry.
Mme Sainte-Marie, 82, said in a statement the day before the CBC report that she did not know who her biological parents are or where she came from, but called herself “a proud member of the Indigenous community with deep roots in Canada.
The singer also provided an affidavit from a former lawyer looking into her Indigenous heritage. Saskatchewan oral history explains that Sainte-Marie was born in the northern Piapot First Nation to an unmarried woman “who could not take care of herself.”
Mme Sainte-Marie maintains ancient and intimate ties to what she says is her native community of Piapot, northeast of Regina. Community members said Buffy Sainte-Marie was part of the family and dismissed CBC’s presentation of the singer’s American birth certificate as a “colonial record.”
The Junos did not respond to a request for comment Monday, but said last week they had not seen the show The Fifth Estate and had “nothing to declare”.
Mme Sainte-Marie has also received many other notable awards, including the Order of Canada in 1997 and a Gemini, now known as the Canadian Screen Awards.
The Office of the Secretary to the Governor General said in a statement that it was aware of the report on Ms.me Sainte-Marie, but did not comment on the possibility that the honors could be revoked.
“The Advisory Council of the Order of Canada reviews nominations and makes recommendations for appointment to the Governor General. This same council can also recommend terminating an appointment. »
There was no immediate response from the Canadian Screen Awards.