Doubts raised over Sainte-Marie’s past roil First Nations, raise questions on harms

Doubts raised over Buffy Sainte-Marie’s First Nations bona fides are roiling the community she claims to be part of. 

A CBC story saying the singer’s ancestry may not be Indigenous has renewed debate about who gets to speak for whom.

Eleanore Sunchild, an Indigenous lawyer and professor, says that Sainte-Marie hasn’t used her claims of identity to gain advantages, unlike other so-called “pretendians.”

Tracy Robinson, a member of an Indigenous group that has spoken out in similar cases, says Sainte-Marie has a long history of involvement with the Cree Piapot community in Saskatchewan, which is defending her.