Buffy Sainte-Marie removed from Canadian Museum for Human Rights exhibit
Buffy Sainte-Marie’s Controversial Identity Claims Lead to Removal from Canadian Museum for Human Rights Exhibit
Buffy Sainte-Marie, a renowned folk singer and activist, has been removed from an exhibit at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights due to questions surrounding her claims of First Nations identity. The Winnipeg-based national museum made the decision to scrub out Sainte-Marie’s profile from an exhibit dedicated to human rights defenders after an investigation by CBC’s The Fifth Estate raised doubts about her Indigenous ancestry.
Sainte-Marie had long maintained that she was born on the Piapot First Nation near Regina and was of Cree descent. However, the CBC investigation uncovered genealogical documentation, including her birth certificate, historical research, and personal accounts that contradicted her claims. The investigation revealed that her birth certificate listed her and her parents as white and indicated that she was born in Massachusetts in 1941.
Robert-Falcon Ouellette, a Winnipeg-based professor at the University of Ottawa and a former member of Parliament, expressed surprise at the museum’s delayed response to the revelations about Sainte-Marie’s identity fabrication. Ouellette criticized Sainte-Marie for perpetuating falsehoods about her heritage and creating a misleading narrative surrounding her background.
The museum stated that the removal of Sainte-Marie’s profile occurred in December following consultations with advisers, colleagues, and elders. The exhibit, located in the museum’s “Rights Today” gallery, had previously showcased Sainte-Marie’s career and her advocacy for social change through music.
Ouellette noted that the exhibit had presented a distorted version of Sainte-Marie’s identity, portraying her as a prominent Indigenous figure despite the inconsistencies in her claims. He emphasized the need for the museum to address the issue of stolen Indigenous identity and suggested replacing Sainte-Marie’s profile with content that explores the phenomenon of individuals falsely claiming Indigenous heritage for personal gain.
Governor General Mary Simon recently revoked Sainte-Marie’s Order of Canada in response to the controversy surrounding her identity claims. Ouellette highlighted the detrimental impact of individuals like Sainte-Marie misrepresenting Indigenous identities, emphasizing the importance of rebuilding trust within Indigenous communities and society at large.
The removal of Buffy Sainte-Marie from the exhibit at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights serves as a reminder of the complexities surrounding Indigenous identity and the importance of upholding truth and authenticity in narratives of cultural heritage. The museum now has an opportunity to address the repercussions of stolen Indigenous identity and promote a more inclusive and accurate representation of Indigenous voices in its exhibitions.
