AceShowbiz - Buffy Sainte-Marie, the Oscar-winning folk singer known for her music and social activism, has had an honorary degree revoked amid controversy regarding her Indigenous ancestry claims.

The University of Toronto announced on Wednesday the decision to rescind the honorary Doctor of Laws degree it awarded to Sainte-Marie in 2019, citing a confidential review process that concluded with approval from the university’s governing council.

This action follows a 2023 investigative report by CBC’s The Fifth Estate, which challenged decades of public narrative describing Sainte-Marie as having Algonquin, Mi'kmaw, and later Cree heritage. The report uncovered a birth certificate indicating she was born in Massachusetts to Italian-American parents.

Last year, Sainte-Marie acknowledged to the Canadian Press that she is an American citizen holding a US passport and stated she was adopted by a Cree family in Saskatchewan as a young adult.

Emerging as a prominent folk figure in the 1960s, Sainte-Marie often incorporated themes linked to her claimed Cree background into her music. She gained wider recognition after winning an Oscar in 1983 for co-writing the song "Up Where We Belong" from the film An Officer and a Gentleman, becoming the first Indigenous person to earn that honor. She also made appearances on Sesame Street.

In August 2023, Sainte-Marie announced her retirement from live performances due to health and physical challenges related to touring.

The University of Toronto noted that since establishing its recognition review committee in 2023, only two honorary degrees have been revoked — Sainte-Marie’s and that of Duncan Campbell Scott.

Audra Simpson, a Kanien'kehá:ka professor from Columbia University, described the university’s decision as overdue. She commented that it represents a just consequence for both individuals, who have engaged differently with the legacies of settler colonialism.

The move by Toronto comes shortly after Dalhousie University withdrew another honorary degree it had awarded to Sainte-Marie in January, following concerns raised by a Mi'kmaw student.

Over her career, Sainte-Marie has received approximately 15 honorary doctorates from institutions including the University of British Columbia, the University of Regina, and Carleton University. These honors are now facing renewed scrutiny in light of the controversy.

Responding to the CBC investigation, Sainte-Marie denounced the allegations as false and described the experience as “traumatizing and unfair.” She told The Hollywood Reporter that the accusations are full of errors and omissions.

Additionally, Sainte-Marie accused her estranged brother Alan, whose statements were featured in the investigation, of having sexually abused her. She expressed deep hurt over her family’s fear and misunderstanding of her, which she attributes to a protective letter she sent amid the abuse.

This article is based on reporting originally published by Pagesix.