Oscar-winning folk singer loses honorary degree over ancestry claims

The University of Toronto has officially rescinded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree previously awarded to folk singer Buffy Sainte-Marie. The decision follows a confidential review prompted by long-standing disputes regarding the artist's claims of Indigenous ancestry.

A Formal Revocation

The university’s governing council announced the decision on Wednesday. The degree, originally bestowed in 2019, recognized Sainte-Marie for her extensive work in music, the arts, and social advocacy.

This development marks only the second time the institution has revoked an honorary degree since it established its formal recognition review committee in 2023.

Roots of the Controversy

The scrutiny surrounding Sainte-Marie intensified following a Canadian Broadcast Corporation investigation by “The Fifth Estate” in October 2023. The report highlighted a birth certificate indicating Sainte-Marie was born in Massachusetts to parents of Italian-American descent, a narrative that sharply contradicts the Algonquin, Mi’kmaw, and Cree heritage she has cited throughout her career.

Sainte-Marie, who rose to fame as a folk icon in the 1960s, famously became the first person identified as Indigenous to win an Academy Award in 1983 for co-writing “Up Where We Belong.” In response to the allegations, the singer has maintained that she is a U.S. citizen who was adopted by a Cree family in Saskatchewan as a young adult. She has previously criticized the CBC investigation, calling it “traumatizing and unfair” and alleging that the report contained numerous errors.

Broader Academic Impact

The University of Toronto is not the only institution reconsidering its ties to the singer. In January, Dalhousie University also stripped Sainte-Marie of an honorary degree following concerns raised by a Mi’kmaw student. With roughly 15 honorary doctorates held by the artist from various institutions—including the University of Regina, the University of British Columbia, and Carleton University—many of these honors are now facing renewed scrutiny.

Audra Simpson, a professor at Columbia University and member of the Kanien’kehá:ka from Kahnawà:ke, expressed support for the move, telling the CBC she views the revocation as an overdue “just consequence” that sends a necessary message.

Sainte-Marie, who announced her retirement from live performing in August 2023 due to health and touring challenges, remains at the center of this ongoing academic debate.