Oscar-winning singer Buffy Sainte-Marie has been stripped of an honorary degree from the University of Toronto, as the controversy over her disputed Native American ancestry claims continues to escalate. The university announced in a statement that it has rescinded the singer-songwriter's honorary Doctor of Laws degree, awarded in 2019 for her contributions to music, the arts, and social advocacy.
A university spokesperson confirmed that the decision followed a confidential review process, which received approval from the school's governing council. This move comes two and a half years after the CBC program "The Fifth Estate" aired an investigation into Sainte-Marie's Indigenous identity claims in October 2023. The report cited a birth certificate indicating that Sainte-Marie was born in Massachusetts to Italian-American parents, contradicting decades of biographies and media reports that described her as Algonquin, Mi'kmaw, and later Cree.
Sainte-Marie rose to fame as a major folk music star in the 1960s, often performing 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 the film "An Officer and a Gentleman," becoming the first Indigenous person to receive the award. In August 2023, she announced her retirement from live performances, citing health concerns and physical challenges associated with touring.
The University of Toronto noted that only two honorary degrees have been revoked since the school established its recognition review committee in 2023. The other revocation involved Duncan Campbell Scott. Columbia University professor Audra Simpson, who is Kanien'kehá:ka from Kahnawà:ke, described the decision as 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 action follows a similar move by Dalhousie University, which stripped Sainte-Marie of another honorary degree in January after questions were raised by a Mi'kmaw student. Sainte-Marie has received approximately 15 honorary doctorates from institutions including the University of British Columbia, the University of Regina, and Carleton University, placing her remaining academic honors under renewed scrutiny.
Following the CBC investigation in 2023, Sainte-Marie denounced the allegations that she faked her Native American ancestry, calling the report "traumatizing and unfair." She told The Hollywood Reporter, "This has been incredibly re-traumatizing for me and unfair to all involved. The attack on my character is full of mistakes and omissions." Additionally, she 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.
