Following a current scandal alleging that the people artist and activist Buffy Sainte-Marie had fabricated her Canadian Indigenous roots, the Polaris Music Prize and Juno Awards have revoked honors bestowed on the musician.
The discharge of a 2023 documentary produced by the Canadian Broadcasting Firm (CBC) known as Sainte-Marie’s Indigenous identification into query. A fervent activist for Indigenous causes, as mirrored in songs like “Now That the Buffalo’s Gone,” Sainte-Marie had lengthy claimed that she was born and raised on a Cree reservation in Saskatchewan. Nonetheless, the CBC program uncovered she was actually born in Massachusetts.
Earlier this 12 months, Sainte-Marie, was stripped of her Order of Canada appointment. Now, the Polaris Music Prize and the Juno Awards have determined that her collected accolades from each establishments will probably be rescinded, because of her lack of ability to supply tangible proof of her Canadian and/or Indigenous identification.
The Polaris Prize was first awarded in 2006 and honors one full-length musical undertaking created by a Canadian artist yearly. Sainte-Marie had been awarded two Polaris Prizes; the primary for her 2015 album Energy within the Blood and later a Heritage Prize, which awards works that had been launched previous to the voting physique’s first ceremony, for her 1964 file It’s My Means!
“Our eligibility standards requires all nominees to be Canadian residents or everlasting residents,” learn an announcement from the group, “With proof of standing supplied by government-issued documentation, together with passports, delivery certificates, everlasting resident playing cards, and/or safe certificates of Indian Standing.”
The Juno Awards has an extended historical past in Canada. The primary JUNOS had been known as the Gold Leaf Awards and its inaugural ceremony was held in February 1970. Introduced by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) the JUNOS honor new releases from Canadian artists that 12 months, together with Artist of the 12 months and Album of the 12 months. Sainte-Marie had obtained a number of Juno Awards, together with the Humanitarian Award in 2017 and Indigenous Music Album of the 12 months in 2018. CARAS additionally based the Canadian Music Corridor of Fame in 1978, inducting Sainte-Marie in 1995, which means she is going to now not be a part of the group of famed musicians, which incorporates Joni Mitchell, Alanis Morrisette, Neil Younger, Gordon Lightfoot, and Leonard Cohen, amongst others.
Based on a CARAS press assertion, the Academy acknowledges that “this resolution isn’t a mirrored image of Ms. Sainte-Marie’s inventive contributions.”
The assertion continued: “Buffy Sainte-Marie has been a robust supporter and advocate for Canadian music, and we acknowledge the previous contributions she has made to our group. Nonetheless, CARAS’ mandate is to coach, develop, have fun, and honor Canadian artists. Sustaining the integrity of this course of is crucial to making sure the group continues to satisfy its goal.”
Following the discharge of CBC’s report, Sainte-Marie eliminated express claims of being Cree from her web site, nevertheless, she maintained that she was Indigenous heritage in public statements. In a brand new assertion responding to her being stripped of the Order of Canada and different accolades, Sainte-Marie stated she “by no means handled my citizenship as a secret and most of my mates and family in Canada have recognized I’m American, and it’s by no means been a problem.” She added, “Though it’s true that I’ve by no means been sure of the place I used to be born, and did examine the chance that I’ll have been born in Canada, I nonetheless don’t know.”
As for her being stripped of her accolades, Sainte-Marie acknowledged, “It was very beautiful to host the medals for awhile, however I return them with a very good coronary heart.”
Sainte-Marie, 84, retired from stay performances in 2023, citing bodily accidents and well being issues. Her final file was 2017’s Medication Songs.
