TORONTO — Buffy Sainte-Marie says she has returned her Order of Canada medals “with a good heart” and reasserts she never lied about her identity, as more institutions deliberate what to do about the musician's many accolades in the absence of proof she was born in Canada.
In her first statement since she was stripped of the prestigious Canadian honour, the singer-songwriter, known for her powerful activism and music, stated she’s now officially recognized as an American citizen, holding a U.S. passport. She responded to questions surrounding her birth and claims of Indigeneity by stating: "my Cree family adopted me forever and this will never change.”
Sainte-Marie clarified to The Canadian Press she “made it completely clear” to Rideau Hall, which bestows the national order, as well as to former Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, during her performance for Queen Elizabeth in 1977, stating she was not Canadian. “It was very lovely to host the medals for awhile, but I return them with a good heart,” she said.
Her comments come as Rideau Hall confirmed it terminated two jubilee medals awarded to Sainte-Marie for her contributions to Canadian culture, in 2002 and 2012—both linked to her membership to the Order of Canada, which was awarded to her back in 1997, but was officially cancelled on January 3 of this year.
Sainte-Marie lost the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal, commemorated for the 50th anniversary of the queen's ascension to the throne, alongside the Diamond Jubilee medal presented for her 60th anniversary, as stated by government sources.
Although Rideau Hall has declined to provide specific reasons for their decisions, they do mention on their official website the regulations surrounding eligibility for the Order of Canada, stating non-Canadians can be awarded “if their contributions have brought benefit or honour to Canadians or to Canada.”
Questions surrounding Sainte-Marie's Indigenous heritage were reignited more than a year ago following a CBC news report. The "Fifth Estate" investigative piece found documented evidence indicating she was born in 1941, not Canada but Massachusetts. The report also included statements from U.S. family members asserting she was never adopted and lacks Indigenous ancestry.
Buffy Sainte-Marie rose to fame during Toronto's Yorkville music scene, penning the iconic war protest anthem "Universal Soldier" and winning an Academy Award as one of the songwriters behind the timeless ballad "Up Where We Belong," featured in the 1982 film "An Officer and a Gentleman." Her music has been laced with activism, making her not only one of the leading voices for Indigenous rights but also improving many lives through her art.
Her efforts were recognized with awards such as the humanitarian accolade at the Junos in 2017, alongside other prestigious recognitions throughout her career, such as winning both the Gemini Award and the Governor General's Performing Arts Award.
On March 4, 2025, Sainte-Marie expressed her “love and gratitude to Canada” but remained non-committal on whether she continues to identify as Indigenous. Over the years, she has consistently described herself as First Nations from Canada, yet was adopted as an infant and raised by Albert and Winifred Sainte-Marie, who she noted was partly Mi’kmaq.
Reflecting on her upbringing, her 2018 authorized biography notes the ambiguity of her birth, with speculation pointing to her likely origins on the Piapot First Nation situated within Saskatchewan's Qu’Appelle Valley during the early 1940s. Still, uncertainty shadows her story, as she shared, “I’ve lived with uncertainty about my parentage and where I was born.”
She noted, “I’ve never treated my citizenship as a secret, and most of my friends and relatives in Canada have known I’m American.” Despite shifting identities, she continued investigating the possibility of being born on Canadian soil but remains unsure.
Previously, Sainte-Marie has contested assertions made by the CBC investigative report, stating, “They didn’t interview anybody who knew me or my growing-up mother but instead constructed a false narrative and then asked people to comment on it.” CBC spokesperson Chuck Thompson stood by the accuracy of the investigative story.
The ramifications of the CBC report have left multiple Canadian institutions grappling with how to move forward concerning the laurels bestowed on the celebrated musician. Recently, she was removed from Winnipeg's Canadian Museum for Human Rights exhibit titled “human rights defenders.”
At the University of Toronto, officials revealed they have received petitions questioning the continued recognition of the honorary Doctor of Laws degree she received in 2019, but no resolution has been reached. Throughout the country, music organizations, including the Junos—whose head Allan Reid confirmed internal discussions are underway—are examining the validity of awards she has earned over her productive career.
Sainte-Marie is also noted as a prominent member of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame with accolades such as the Polaris Music Prize for her 2015 album “Power in the Blood,” awarded $50,000 after its selection.
“If some Canadians now want to reject me, okay,” Sainte-Marie stated poignantly. “People in Canada have been so nice to me, particularly the arts community, and I’ve been so honored by this acceptance, I have truly felt 'adopted' by Canada—although I can see today not everybody sees it the same way.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on March 4, 2025.