Buffy Sainte-Marie, a folk singer who has won an Oscar, has recently faced significant backlash over controversy surrounding her Native American heritage claims, resulting in the revocation of an honorary degree.
On Wednesday, the University of Toronto officially announced that it had rescinded Sainte-Marie’s honorary Doctor of Laws degree, originally awarded in 2019 in recognition of her contributions to music, the arts, and social advocacy.
A university representative mentioned that the decision followed a confidential review process, which concluded with the endorsement of the institution’s governing council.
This action follows two and a half years after an investigation by CBC’s “The Fifth Estate,” published in October 2023, questioned Sainte-Marie’s Indigenous identity claims.
The investigation presented a birth certificate indicating that Sainte-Marie was born in Massachusetts to Italian-American parents, contradicting long-standing biographies and media reports that identified her as Algonquin, Mi’kmaw, and later Cree.
Last year, Sainte-Marie told the Canadian Press she is an American citizen with a US passport who was adopted as a young adult by a Cree family in Saskatchewan.
Sainte-Marie became a major folk music star in the 1960s and frequently performed music tied to her claimed Cree heritage.
She later appeared on “Sesame Street” and won an Oscar in 1983 for co-writing “Up Where We Belong” from “An Officer and a Gentleman,” becoming the first Indigenous person to win the award.
Sainte-Marie announced her retirement from live performances in August 2023, citing health concerns and physical challenges related to touring.
The University of Toronto said only two honorary degrees have been revoked since the school created its recognition review committee in 2023. The other belonged to Duncan Campbell Scott.
Columbia University professor Audra Simpson, who is Kanien’kehá:ka from Kahnawà:ke, called the decision overdue.
“A just consequence for both him and for her, who have both acted on the imperatives of settler colonialism in different ways and in different time periods,” Simpson told CBC.
“I hope it sends a message.”
Toronto’s move comes just months after Dalhousie University stripped Sainte-Marie of another honorary degree in January following questions raised by a Mi’kmaw student.
Sainte-Marie has received about 15 honorary doctorates over the years from schools including the University of British Columbia, the University of Regina and Carleton University — putting more of her academic honors under renewed scrutiny.
After the CBC investigation aired in 2023, Sainte-Marie blasted the allegations she faked her Native American ancestry, calling the report “traumatizing and unfair.”
“This has been incredibly re-traumatizing for me and unfair to all involved,” she told The Hollywood Reporter.
“The attack on my character is full of mistakes and omissions,” she said.
Sainte-Marie also accused her estranged brother Alan — whose claims were featured in the investigation — of sexually abusing her.
“It hurts me deeply to discover that my estranged family grew up scared of me and thinking these lies because of a letter I sent intended to protect me from further abuse from my brother,” she said.