Buffy Sainte-Marie loses Order of Canada, amid falsified indigenous heritage allegations

Buffy Sainte-Marie’s Order of Canada has been revoked by Governor General Mary Simon, a move that follows serious doubts raised about the folk singer’s claim of indigenous identity. 

A notice of termination was posted on Friday in the federal government’s official publication, confirming that Simon signed the order on January 3. 

While no specific reason was listed, the announcement came one year after a CBC investigation suggested that Sainte-Marie’s birth records show she was born in Massachusetts in 1941 to white parents, rather than on Piapot First Nation near Regina.

Sainte-Marie defended herself when the story first emerged, criticizing the CBC for what she called an “attack on [her] character, life, and legacy.” 

Sainte-Marie argued that community acceptance is more important than colonial record-keeping when determining indigenous identity. 

However, her official website later removed references to her Cree heritage and no longer mentioned her birth on Piapot First Nation.

In its policy, the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General states that the Advisory Council for the Order of Canada can recommend termination if a recipient’s actions undermine the order’s integrity. 

Sainte-Marie is only the ninth person ever expelled from the Order of Canada in its 50-year history. 

History of her appointment has also been scrubbed from the Governor General’s website, where archived material once described her as “born of Cree parents on the Piapot reserve.”

She announced her retirement from performing live in August 2023 and remains a polarizing figure within indigenous and music communities.