Buffy Sainte-Marie’s Order of Canada Revoked Following Heritage Dispute

The Governor General’s office terminated the honor after a CBC investigation questioned the singer-songwriter’s Indigenous identity.

Buffy Sainte-Marie, a celebrated musician and activist, had her Order of Canada appointment officially terminated on January 3, 2025, as announced in the Canada Gazette.
The decision follows a 2023 CBC investigation alleging Sainte-Marie was not of Indigenous descent, citing a birth certificate listing her as white and born in Massachusetts in 1941.
Sainte-Marie has consistently denied fabricating her identity, stating she does not know her birth parents or origins but identifies as part of the Piapot Cree First Nation through a traditional adoption process.
The allegations have sparked divided opinions, with some defending Sainte-Marie’s contributions to Indigenous advocacy and others criticizing her for allegedly misrepresenting her heritage.
Despite the controversy, major music institutions have not revoked her numerous accolades, including seven Juno Awards and an Oscar for Best Original Song.