'Pretendian' Caught After Decades of False Indigenous Ancestry Claims | Buffy Sainte-Marie Analysis

[@landofthelivingskies3318]

Im a Cree from Saskatchewan Canada. When i found out i was absolutely heartbroken. There isnt a cree singer from Saskatchewan to ever reach international heights and recognition like Bluffy Ain't Cree. At first I was ready to forgive her and say so what. Then i heard and seen how she was willing to ruin her REAL family by fake sexual abuse accusations, and would leave them destitute if they fought it. How she turned her back on her loving family for fame and money is downright selfish. She's an imposter, with not a drop of cree blood in her. And she knew this. I dont give a dam what awareness she brought to our plight, she always did it for a fee. She should be stripped of all her accolades and should never set foot in cree country again. She will not be welcomed from me and my family thats for sure. BLUFFY AINT CREE.

[@MichaelKurse]

We, Americans, apologize for her fraud. We don't claim her, either.😡😡😡

[@batsandbatsandbats]

I was ready to say that at first as well, I didn't even want to watch the Fifth Estate, but once her real relatives shared their side it was irrefutable. Relating her upbringing to the "big scoop" was deplorable especially since so many indigenous children are still separated from their families and birth alerts only ended recently. And you're correct, she did it for a fee that was higher than most at some points.

[@MicahMicahel]

but you allow the government to say a person with a penis is a woman. if that's so what the difference here? Aren't we supposed to be what we feel we are? Isn't it supposed to be hate in canada now to question a person's identity? Why is it for gender? why are people accepting dishonesty and claiming they are upset when they see it? I think people aren't honest about anything in canada anymore. We have a schizophrenic outlook and if we complain we are guilty of being a trucker or a person that likes freedom. In Canada we say, freedumb instead of freedom. We 're allowed to call this out as dishonest because they allow us?

[@rejeandurette3471]

I appreciate your heartfelt comment here. I grew up around many Cree people in Saskatchewan. I share your emotions and sadness as well.

[@ItsAllOptics]

@@rejeandurette3471 If I was Indigenous, and found out someone famous lied about being so too, I'd be angry. In essence she USED the Indigenous people and your real life struggle historically, even to this day to create a false narrative that only benefitted herself. In terms of her claiming to have been of the Piapot family. I wonder what thoughts went through her head knowing factually she didn't have an ounce of blood in her. She USED the Indigenous people.

[@Lala-bobloblaw]

The fact she is used native ancestry for her own gain and a sexual abuse accusation to silence her family is appalling

[@kyleklukas4808]

I'll say ...

[@Acoustic-Rabbit-Hole]

Her best recording, ironically was her most Native of all: “It’s my way.” //I think it’s a mistake for the mob to be trying to smear her without acknowledging her work. It was a stunningly raw and original work. Yet entirely created in a delusional identity/fantasy.Buffy Saint-Marie is truly proof that madness can transcend ethics itself. Her music was REAL, just as all art (including music) is a fiction. Buffy Sainte Marie may not “deserve” to be recognized as one if the all-time great female songwriters. But she absolutely is. And her music will live on.

[@rosewoodsteel6656]

Buffy deserves to be recognized as an absolute piece of $hit. Oh yeah, she can also sing folk songs. @@Acoustic-Rabbit-Hole

[@summerland5050]

This is perhaps the worse injustice of all. Hopefully, she will be called out for this in a a greater way and forced to apologize for ths wrong she did to this man-her biological brother-- and their family. Very shameful to resort to such a tactic, and calls any good work she did into question.

[@Acoustic-Rabbit-Hole]

The strange thing is that here beautiful music may wind up being passed on thru the very shame of her actions and lies. Her success will forever be her curse! @@summerland5050

[@drvp1996]

There are hundreds of great First Nations musicians in Canada... she stood in the front of the line and stole their awards... there's no other way to spin this story

[@PurpleIrishSweater]

@@steveatlas3492Canada uses the term “First Nation People” to encompass the nations of people indigenous to Canada prior to English/French arrival. Native American Nations are recognized by both Canada and the United States. Americans use the word “tribe” instead of Nation. There are those that say this is a carryover from centuries of treating Native Americans as if they are less than civilized. A refusal to acknowledge that Native Americans had formed Nations long before Europe was here. There are those that say it is a simple vernacular “tomāto/tomahto”difference between the U.S. and Canada.

[@paulinegauthier1867]

Or maybe she's just a better musician/songwriter/performer than the rest?? Again claims of 'stolen' this and 'stolen' that...

[@marciloni12]

The very people and family she was trying to protect (heavy sarcasm).

[@skepticscircle1497]

@@steveatlas3492True good sir.

[@stephenletts4942]

​​@@steveatlas3492no concept of Nationhood? The Haida Nation and many 1st Nations have a complete understanding of who they are. There was never a war in North America, we had the civil War, the war of 1812. And the fighting between two global Corporations, NWTC and Hudson Bay- which led to HBC purchase. Most of the land in North America was bought and paid for. Most 1st Nations peoples were killed by disease, the British on the Pacific Rim were very late to placing the flag, it was the American government who created the borders that make up British Canada. I see so much hate over this, hate by white people- the racism seeps below. It is non Natives that are Screaming the loudest, why is that?

[@lzal9204]

I just finished watching the Fifth Estate documentary on her and wow! I think the fact that she sunk so low as to accuse her brother of being a child molester in order to silence the family from exposing her is probably the lowest of low. She is clearly NOT in any way shape or form indigenous and her story has changed so much through the years. She should be ashamed of herself. Accepting awards as an indigenous person. She has some mental issues

[@rosekeyes3189]

Maybe her brother was a child molester. It took me until I was 39 years old to openly talk about my brother being a molester when I was younger. It was incredibly painful to talk about. Many people bury it way down.

[@DeeAnderson-oj2hr]

I saw that show and I agree. She clearly is not mentally okay. I don't believe her accusations about her brother. How can anyone believe someone who has been living the lies of fakery?

[@evangeline77x]

​@@rosekeyes3189Based on the available evidence I strongly doubt that her brother ever abused her in anyway, or any child for that matter. The accusation against him was only made privately after her brother was contacted by PBS to ask about her heritage, which he did not conceal. At which point he also made efforts to inform a radio station about her false identity. The letter he wrote to the radio station made his motive clear; he was disappointed in his sister taking opportunities from actual indigenous women and using false pretenses to position herself as a spokesperson for indigenous social issues to further her own career. The letter bore no hints of malice or any indication of a personal grudge against Buffy. He was genuinely concerned that she was exploiting indigenous culture and just wanted the truth to be made known. Buffy's lawyers immediately silenced him in a threatening form letter with a second hand written letter from Buffy that explicitly stated if he did not stop talking about her that she would publicly identify him as a child molester and ruin his life. The next time she spoke up about being abused by her brother was after his death when he nor his family could refute her claim or sue her for defamation. And given all of the many countless things Buffy has lied about consistently for 60+ years the most likely scenario in this case is that she also lied about being abused by her brother. The accusation was clearly intended to threaten him into silence and it worked, now that she's been caught she is making more and more outlandish claims about her entire family to justify her lies. There's just no way to take anything she says seriously anymore, it's all motivated by greed and narcissism.

[@primesspct2]

@@rosekeyes3189 But she just seemingly acknowledges it when her brother was writing newspapers?? He had a conscience, he thought it would take opportunities from those peoples. And here we are. You cannot take the word of a liar!

[@jeffjones3040]

How do we know what did or did not happen in their family? We don't.

[@davejones6130]

As a Canadian I am so appalled by this woman’s behaviour I’ve written to the Governor Generals office to request they immediately strip her of her Order of Canada awarded in 1997 …for reasons of gross misconduct , family / parental abuse and selfishly impersonating a Canadian Aboriginal for personal gain.

[@STR82DVD]

Thank you. I'm also writing to the Governor General. Bluffy must be stripped of all honours and awards.

[@brockreynolds870]

I have a question for you. Have you EVER seen a caucasian woman who looked like her in skin tone, and bone structure?

[@sierravista9013]

@@brockreynolds870 she is pert Italian if Sicilian she could look indigenous, because of the Arabs, and Romans who invaded Sicily. One of my cousins was often mistaken, And one of my brothers looks like an Arab

[@haloeffect67]

​@@brockreynolds870She's half Italian. Her paternal side is from the southern region of Italy where some people have darker skin tones.

[@brockreynolds870]

@@sierravista9013 If those documentary claims are true, she is only 1/4 sicilian. No WAY someone who is only 1/4 would look the way she does.

[@VertigoMusicMagazine]

My mother went to school with Buffy in Wakefield, MA and my mother told me for fifty years that Buffy was a fraud. I believe Buffy has borderline personality disorder.

[@marinalina6348]

So her look is just hair dye, make up, plastic surgery and her cadence is put on??

[@VertigoMusicMagazine]

@@marinalina6348 she uses tanning products and she actually looks very Italian. My mother went to school with her. Buffy was just a white girl, lighter hair. For fifty years my mother told me Buffy was a fraud. And she hurt her family deeply.

[@Acoustic-Rabbit-Hole]

Not to mention, imagine how carefully she tanned her skin. Probably very slowly, and meticulously by the minute to give the most natural-looking dark skin. I'm Hispanic from Southern, NM, but I lived on the edge of the Mescalero Apache reservation, so I went to grade school there and everything. I still play piano for mass at a huge stone cathedral there. Not saying that ever tried to integrate with the Apaches (in a way i've ALWAYS been part of the community), just saying that Buffy is more than anything, lying to _herself._ In a disturbing, let liberating way, the only the real thing about her is her stunning art. Which is ironic because all art is fantasy. Even music is an emotion that comes from nothing (except maybe from the Spirit World itself.). "Creating" an identity is something we ALL do every time we wake up and dress ourselves and put on best smile. We all unconsciously know that the soul must be tempered, lest Buffy-Sainte Marie sue you for "deeply" hurting her as a child, just as she threatened her white blood-brother. // I appreciate your comment, Mrs. Marianalina. - _The Acoustic Rabbit Hole_

[@fj2201]

@@VertigoMusicMagazine I've tried looking for photos of her parents online in order to see if there were any resemblances....especially after hearing that her brother and niece were blonde or lighter in general tone--- just to see if there was any truth to the notion that she might have actually been a secret outside child on the "native" side. It's easy enough to lie on a birth certificate about an affair baby; and if the sister is related to Buffy's son, the test might have just picked up on the mother's side and not the Italian father. Don't know, but I couldn't find photos. Does your mother know if she actually resembled her parents or other relatives?

[@askauntyd9884]

Also she looks like her sisters twin except her sister has shoulder length blond hair in the 5th estate doco too. Go check it out & let us know if u think the same or...?

[@JonathanDiNamesMusic]

It's shocking how far she was willing to go to keep up her charade. People are frightening. Keep the great content coming Dr. Grande

[@rachellandry3116]

like every "trans" individual.

[@Eredeana]

​@@rachellandry3116 nothing like that, dr. grande recognizes trans people are real unlike this situation

[@sr2291]

@@rachellandry3116 I knew trans people in Hollywood in 1968. May West said they were just born in the wrong body.

[@sr2291]

@Eredeana Buffy has issues, and she never totally resolved them. As an adoptee - doing DNA testing has resolved some of mine.

[@Eredeana]

​@@sr2291sure, I'm just defending trans people rn

[@tsdobbi]

I saw her response to the allegations. Once I saw this line, I stopped reading. "Now it is time for me to shine a light on the truth, my truth." Once I hear someone utter the words "my truth" I know what ever they regurgitate after is a lie.

[@mothball5425]

Or just gibberish 😂

[@dallassegno]

Still worth it

[@maxalberts2003]

One would assume that she had been "shining a light" on "her truth" from the beginning of her career. What's the REAL story?

[@zxyatiywariii8]

Yeah, "my truth" has become a perniciously popular claim since about 2012. Truth doesn't need a possessive qualifier like "my", "your", "his", "her", etc.

[@zacharywho5442]

"MY TRUTH", is just another way to say My Opinion, LOL

[@tanyasand7042]

I’m a 60s scoop survivor and always thought she was too. She skipped all the trauma and claimed that she went thru whey we did as survivors. She’s delusional and a narcissist.

[@katiejai9848]

I am sorry for what you have gone through and it is so wrong for her to get a "free" ride based on the trauma of others.

[@marymckenna6482]

I am sorry for what you wnt through, and you are right- at one point she even claimed to be a scoop child. She has no shame whatsoever. She was raised by an Italian family near Boston and went to regular public schools. How dare she.

[@sandralnwebster3204]

I am so sorry that the person you admired and looked up to proved to be a fraud! I am so im- pressed with all the indigenous artists that are on the music scene today! You should support and celebrate them❤. Peace be with you!

[@JDoe-gf5oz]

People really abusing that survivor label these days.

[@liftedgifted6010]

Pretty hard to scoop a 21 year old lol she was born in like 1940

[@Nikabrown2020]

As a Canadian I have to say that I’m disappointed and angry. Buffy built her entire career on being Indian, she has reaped awards and respect as well as money fraudulently. I’m 72 and grew up with her music and feel disillusioned that she would fabricate her life for the sake of her career.

[@GdF420]

Well said - It's a sad story, a life of deceit. How can you live your life knowing you're a fraud ?

[@Bodyknowledge77]

@@GdF420 It's important(but not easy) to not put public people on pedestals. Humans often exist to bewilder. What she did is/was unsavory but compared to what some other public people have pulled and will pull..

[@mortygoldmacher]

She is a fake Canadian as well.

[@troy3456789]

The fact that there are identity based awards, giving out rewards and benefits based upon identity, vice accomplishment based awards leads to this kind of crime. It literally has to lead to this kind of crime. Rewarding someone for their immutable identity should seem like a really stupid idea in 2023, yet it is gaining steam in the west.

[@nick_czem_nick656]

@@GdF420 Politicians do that all the time. And guess what, we know it and we still vote...

[@heatherl4739]

I just watched the Fifth Estate segment about this. Very interesting... Her family was put in a very difficult situation by being threatened with defamation lawsuits if they said anything. It was just awful how she treated her family...especially her brother. I'm surprised she was able to get away with it for so long! Also, I dont know how she could, in good conscience, accept awards reserved for indigenous people.

[@Lucky_Chase]

She's got that colonizer nose!😂 What's next? Is she gonna say she "identifies" as this?

[@Road_Rash]

She has no good conscience... she's only interested in maintaining the lie... not accepting them wouldn't go with the lie...

[@Sleepparalysisdemon2]

She felt she was indigenous, so it would seem only right to accept awards for indigenous. That is just the least of anything that would worry her.

[@tickledpnk85]

She waited for her brother to die before she made accusations!

[@janetpelletier1238]

The Fifth Estate is really good journalism. It's a regular for me.

[@davidbennett9691]

I worked down the hall from her when she was doing the music for "Where the Spirit Lives," an excellent indigenous Canadian film. She was a nightmare prima donna to be around but no one dared to call her on her bad behavior. She was claiming at that time to be a victim of generational abuse in the infamous residential school system. Stolen victimhood.

[@hoppes9658]

Let me guess. Another Pocahontas?

[@stevepark2643]

@@hoppes9658 ... Fauxahontas

[@davidbennett9691]

@@Julia-nl3gq I wish I had an answer for that question. Maybe it has to do with the way we fetishize the rich and famous. Maybe it's because we realize how quickly and viciously they can pursue retribution for a perceived slight or a critical word. And maybe it's just easier to let it go, stay out of their way and move on.

[@JDoe-gf5oz]

@@Julia-nl3gq People don't want to lose their jobs.

[@bramstayer]

Yeah I know first the scoop lie then the residential schools. She's in it to ne a victim as well as a star, what a sad sack.

[@5p674]

I met Buffy in the early years of her career when she was performing in coffee houses. I was a waitress and she was rude to the employees and very demanding. She talked about being Indian but we were told that she wasn't, that she was Italian.

[@rfastkats924]

I remember years ago the question of her FN roots came into the media. It was quickly shut down by her devoted fans.

[@thiscorrosion900]

Turned out she was a housewife from The Bronx named Marie IndigBuffo or some crap. I dunno. Whatever.

[@BananaJSSI]

Amazing

[@Don-du7du]

I bet she was rude seems like it would go along with her narcissism

[@lilyroza]

LoL, by posing as a mistreated minority, she could get away with rudeness, if a white server responded in like manner, they'd be accused of not liking Indians. She wore more Indian garb than any real Indians I've ever known, they mostly dress just like ordinary people. She wrote some good songs though. I like the Piney Wood Hills. I really don't care if she wanted to identify as Indian. Plenty of lighter skinned blackpool don't want to admit to being white, so they claim Indian Heritage. Her family changed their surname for the benefits of appearing to be a different ethnicity, so it's pretty funny that they're exposing her, they're probably getting paid to do it. My mom was a brown-skinned woman who claimed to be of Spanish heritage instead of Mexican, her whole family did it, her birth certificate said white. She always claimed to be white, even though everyone knew she wasn't completely, none of the white people cared, she didn't suffer prejudice. It is so common for mixed race Mexicans to claim to be white, that there is now a distinction on the census: Hispanic? White? Or non-Hispanic white?

[@alisonj9533]

Her dirty blackmail against the family was terrible and her sister is devastated after knowing now what the hushed conversation was about, very cruel!

[@AncoraImparoPiper]

Pre-internet it was a lot easier to make all kinds of claims because it was much harder to verify them.

[@MyDrugHell]

Or keep track of all the different lies.

[@Julia-nl3gq]

Ooo that's a good point. Well, I guess that's one good thing about the internet age: liars like Buffy get caught. Although I am kinda nostalgic for internet-free times. I sometimes want to go back to having a walkman, a VCR, and phone on the wall with a long coily cord.

[@eerrm1]

When you say you’re native, people are supposed to shut up and not ask questions.

[@ydoicare2000]

Not harder. It just required actual research skills

[@ylekiote99999]

Buffy´s reaction to all her lies is almost more disgusting than the lies themselves.

[@redneckgirl3326]

A few years ago, her sister posted her DNA results on her FB page. It did have Native American ancestry. Why did Buffy concoct an extraordinary story about being adopted if that was true?

[@Acoustic-Rabbit-Hole]

She decided her fate in her youth, knowing that she would live the lie till the bitter end. Buffy was an imposter who ultimatly became Native American my sheer will. Her pronouns are She-Cree. @@redneckgirl3326

[@africaRBG]

that Native American ancestry could be very far back and not even known about in their family. Ive never seen the post, just guessing.@@redneckgirl3326

[@winstonwhiteside9525]

​@@redneckgirl3326What percentage of her DNA is Native American? 1 percent? Less than 1 percent? That does not qualify one as being of that ethnicity, and therefore Buffy Sainte-Marie cannot claim to be Native American.

[@hexl702too5]

@@redneckgirl3326 There could be a third story…… Maybe it’s a fact she was born in Massachusetts, and those names are on her birth certificate…. but it doesn’t mean that’s her real father….. Her mother could’ve had an affair with a native guy and got pregnant with her…. Maybe she was even raped or assaulted….. And that’s what they’re covering up….. She sure looks like she has native blood to me……

[@ninecatsmagee8384]

She denied her true family and threatened her brother with slander when he tried to set the record straight. She wasn't indigenous nor Canadian, yet accepted prizes and honours reserved for those musicians. A thief, a compulsive liar with so many versions of her life to suit any occasion; a blackmailer and an imposter. Whether anybody decides to prosecute her remains to be seen.

[@Acoustic-Rabbit-Hole]

Yes, but is she not a woman? Her music is actually BRILLIANT.

[@ninecatsmagee8384]

@@mamatino3125 If you see a comparison [overlay] of her face and her brother's they are identical features. The fact that she threatened him with ruin and a potential prison sentence if he exposed her lies is rather damning and most people can visualise what it would mean to be treated in that way. "Hate wagon" is a bit strong isn't it? I think it's more a community recognition of how this mistreats and steals from the indigenous community itself when you accept honours and awards because you're [purportedly] Native American. That takes from other people with less opportunity than she had as an actual Italian-American as many have proved. In relation to other folk singers, she accepted many times more money for performances, even from the early days, pretending to be indigenous. That sets up people who make these claims in future for additional scrutiny -- and it's already happening.

[@Acoustic-Rabbit-Hole]

No matter what you say, you still have no right to try to cancel Buffy. She left the white ways she grew up with, and was adoptee by a Cree people. That was her choice. As I said, her songwriting was truly brilliant. Look at how literally they are trying to cancel Quincy Jones for having the hots for supposedly having the hits fir the young men who sang under his tutelage. Or literally you can see videos where the Woke mob is trying to cancel John K., the cartoonist who created Ren and Stimpy. Again, for sexual allegations. It IS a hate-train, as Mamatino said. Dr. Grande himself tried to defame spirtual writers Teal Swan and the beloved Ecart Tolle. This video is encouraging mob-mentality. Just read through some some of the comments. Rosanne Bar did not deserve to be cancelled, and neither does Buffy Sainte Marie. You cannot erase their actual work. Their art will always live.@@ninecatsmagee8384

[@ninecatsmagee8384]

@@Acoustic-Rabbit-Hole "No matter what you say" is as close-minded as any "hate train" [your words] to do with legality of the situation, not to mention the morality. What happens with any of these people and the way in which it compromises their legacy IS the point. There's no prerequisite to be immoral in order to succeed and "young men" and everybody else needs to understand that they risk everything they achieve if they lie and cheat. My parents told me this many years ago. I still believe them.

[@00st307-m]

@@mamatino3125so bc she “looks native” and you were entertained by her music - you are fine with her going around saying she’s the “first Native American to get an Oscar” when she’s actually an Italian-English woman from Massachusetts? And you’re ok w her threatening her family Into silence with lies + lawsuits? All bc you found her entertaining? And you have some weird theory about Italian / native bone structure? Very strange of your. Your priorities are all out of whack. But honestly says a lot about your generations’ values. Boomers praise this kind of person.

[@blazingstar9638]

Ppl in Canada loved Buffy, she even got her own stamp! I know ppl who are legit hurt by this! It’s depressing. I told them never trust a celebrity , a lot of them are narcissists, and also in this case a fraud

[@wormwoodcocktail]

Same. I love her work so much. She’s such a talented folk musician and one of the few remaining 60s protest singers. I think she is a tremendously beautiful woman, and her songs like Universal Soldier are masterpieces. Her lying sucks so hard. She’s talented enough to not do this and still have a career. She didn’t need to cheat Indigenous people.

[@florencechestnut2270]

You know over the past few years I've noticed alot of celebrities I once looked up to have betrayed many of us and yes even shown alot of hatred against their long time fans. I feel that all my heroes I once had are now gone.

[@donnie8917]

I never loved the cow.

[@berndtherrenvolk1951]

@@donnie8917I think you mean “bison.”

[@mkravec7943]

Are you sure she knew the truth?

[@Aaron-kj8dv]

One interesting thing about these liars is that their lies start way before the internet existed and gained popularity so it really was essentially impossible to check these things. I often wonder if they have moments of panic that theyll be found out or if theyre so deep into the lie now they believe it too.

[@freddieward5860]

Come to Los Angeles Mexico if you need verification...

[@bobbyologun1517]

I founder of the Nation Of Islam is the original ethinicity jumping conman. however there are still a remarkable number of legal documents (espicially from the lapd) that exposed his grift in the 1920/30s. Wallace Ford Muhammad!

[@returnofthereasoner3200]

@@bobbyologun1517Wallace Fard Muhammad

[@citygirlingraham]

The truth will eventually come out.

[@janemorrow8802]

Truth does come out. I find it interesting to read that she won't take a DNA test.

[@Chuck-se5hh]

I was blown away by a concert of hers at my highschool in Yorkton, Saskatchewan in 1995, she stunned and floored the entire audience and brought it to its feet by dramatically opening with 'Starwalker', and I had the privilege of speaking to her personally, and I bought her CD at the concert. I was totally taken in. I will never listen to her music again.

[@agnesrobertson9099]

I thought it was terrible that she threatened her brother with sexual abuse allegations .

[@notconsenting6633]

You actually liked that garbage? I always thought her music sucked even when I thought she was native😊

[@nemanjastankovic4439]

Hm yeah Starwalker is great song but not only great song she wrote. Universal Soldier is timeless classic and has nothing to do with Native Americans so sure hate artist but don't hate music.

[@MeSi-o9z]

The fact she didn't immediately apologize and doubled down is... telling

[@JM-jy7yj]

Correct. Fraud. And THIS is why we shouldn't do identity politics. Ever. I would literally make it illegal.

[@codychickadee5095]

She's pandering to an audience that frankly cares little about objective truth. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@tanler7953]

You wanted her to have a Marion Jones moment? The thought crossed my mind, of Marion on the podium in front of the court house, delivering her tearful apology.

[@geeksworkshop]

No it isn't...

[@D.A.OhK.]

She's not the one that needs to apologize.

[@saphire9823]

Thank you for this video. As an Indigenous (Mi'Kmaq) " Canadian" this has been so upsetting and infuriating

[@tracevicente]

I’m a white Canadian and have felt great empathy and respect to how the indigenous community feels with this deep deception. I feel we need to listen right now 😔 and only say how sorry we are

[@frakismaximus3052]

"Canadian" lol

[@cbasbwoyETP]

Shout out the mi kmaq!!

[@JulieSevelson-nb9nj]

Given that her appearance is First Nations, this is indeed bizarre. Why is this information only coming out now ? It looks like Saint Marie came from a dysfunctional family anyway. She really needs to get a DNA test and settle the matter by scientific means. Her family is not trustworthy. Science can prove one way, or the other.

[@ritaleonard873]

I am sorry for the indigenous community.

[@Friskyhorton]

Wow, im blown away that she successfully carried out her ruse for so long, and it’s disgusting that she tried to black mail her brother into silence.

[@rosewoodsteel6656]

She did more than try, she succeeded.

[@jim2376]

"it’s disgusting that she tried to black mail her brother" This is the worst part of this entire episode.

[@krissalkond]

@@jim2376 Why did she try to black mail her brother?

[@jim2376]

@@krissalkond Watch the show again and then see if you can figure out the self evident answer.

[@Attmay]

To keep the lie alive. That just made it worse.

[@ryetim32]

What she did to her brother and niece is appalling

[@liftedgifted6010]

SO GLAD they found the strength to come forward with the truth while Bluffy is still alive to live through it.

[@desertari]

Gee, and your documentation is?

[@rpk1519]

Thank you for covering this. As a Canadian I am shocked and saddened. She was noted as the first Indigenous person to win an Oscar for "Up Where We Belong".

[@MicahMicahel]

why are you saddened? Do you get sad when a person with a penis is a woman? Why is this different?

[@katiejai9848]

do you wonder if her claiming "indigenous" status had a small part in her winning

[@59marguerite]

I live in Canada where this story has barely ruffled feathers. Most of my friends are defending her for her record of standing up for indigenous peoples. For me, a lie is a lie from which no real good comes.

[@sharonlatour6230]

a lie, is a lie, no matter what the intention is.

[@wiredhope]

imo as a native I think it's worse she spoke on our issues in redface no less, like?? I'd under if she said she supported it without lying and claiming to be native and speak on our issues that she never lived. There's no real way to defend her tbh..

[@willemvanriet7160]

Off course it’s ruffling feathers. I’m from Vancouver and many ppl are talking and upset about it

[@lorimorden6343]

It’s heartbreaking. I grew up thinking she was brave & beautiful & talented. She may be all those things but she’s also a liar. Take the awards away from her the way she took them away from real indigenous artists.

[@georgekustner3440]

This is the first time I hear about this. Nobody talks about this here in Canada. I am shocked and surprised. Ah! Human nature. Imitation is the purest form of flattery.

[@tablescapesbydonna]

Very disappointing as a First Nations individual who looked up to her - all I have to say is Indigeneity can't be earned. She took up space that belonged to Indigenous people! Lying about who you are is never okay

[@ocnblizzard4764]

Yes, she stole Ernest Monias's place on Sesame Street 😮

[@BackyardButcher]

She also stole the girl on the Land of Lakes butter

[@shilowaters6082]

I'm confused why American "Indigenous" get treated like they are so special? As far as I know their land was not taken, but conquered 100s and 100s of years ago. Yet people in modern days act like they deserve special treatment and benefits? Would they not be able to keep their traditions and stuff going if not for some kind of treaty?

[@JACKDAWFISH]

Look up to Jesus, everyone else is fake.

[@ocnblizzard4764]

@@BackyardButcher ha ha ha!!!!

[@LeisaRich]

I worked for Buffy and was erroneously fired by her for something I did not do, and she did not give me the time to discuss her wrong accusation. She was NOT a nice person. She was quite mean. To me, this came as no surprise. She struck me as a narcissist, and I see that karma has come to bite her, like she bit me.

[@jwelsh939]

I hear you. I myself lived through the 60s and 70s. I see a lot of similarities to the present day. Back then, like today, a lot of insanity in the streets.

[@nemanjastankovic4439]

Songs are great though. Artists are often not what you would expect but songs they write cannot be faked and those are some great songs. And if we are honest is any of famous rock musicians really "normal" person ? Most of them are crazy as f.

[@jeweleratlarge]

Was that on Kauai?

[@sketchyold]

@@nemanjastankovic4439 Making a career around faking and outright lying about one’s race and heritage is FAR BEYOND when “Artists are often not what you’d expect.” This is disgusting, and should almost be considered fraud. Well, she IS a fraud and made money off of it. This should be a crime that is right up there with the people who have been found guilty and punished for fraud for faking diseases like cancer and taking donations.

[@MikeBaxterABC]

​@@nemanjastankovic4439 I think her music sucks, the ONLY reason it was accepted is because it was thought to be coming from the mouth of an "Indian.". This is actually VERY insulting, winning "Best Indian Singer" is like people saying Yes the music sucks, but it's good enough considering it's coming out of an Indian"

[@MarceloVolcato]

She's not the first person to lie about their race, she's not going to be the last. There are advantages, and she took the opportunity to profit.

[@spbname8121]

In case you have not noticed she is in show-business! It's not real life. Only gullible fools belive anything else.

[@zenawarrior7442]

Exactly. She needs to refund her Gov't payments.

[@shilowaters6082]

The Gov't needs to stop giving payments to Indigenous people, there's no reason they deserve it over other people just because their ancestors were born in a shitty time

[@SaveGaza44]

​@@shilowaters6082Wrong. The colonizers raped and murdered nearly all of the Native population here! More than a " bad time". He double hockey sticks

[@zenawarrior7442]

@@shilowaters6082 Agreed

[@jenanne31]

Wow, I hadn't heard about this. Buffy was good friends with my aunt and uncle, who couldn't say enough good things about her or stop talking about how amazing she was. It's good that they are no longer with us; this would crush them. Thanks for covering this case, Dr. Grande.

[@drivenmad7676]

The phrase "Living your truth" really grinds my gears.

[@jecarlin]

As soon as someone says "my truth" I know they are lying.

[@echopeakbicycling85]

Translated as "living a lie" helps.

[@missasinenomine]

"Grinds your gears"? Try an automatic.

[@norbitcleaverhook5040]

As an overweight lesbian trans native American woman who suffers from alopecia and mental disabilities, I'm offended.

[@MicahMicahel]

in canada if we don't affirm people, we get charged fir a hate crime. Teachers in Ottawa speak in Newspeak! They don't say pronouns he or she/ they say they. Newspeak is when the government makes language LESS SPECIFIC.

[@peterruddick1952]

I worked for Polaroid in the 70's with a number of people from the Stoneham/Reading (MA) area. I clearly remember one of our mechanics insisting he knew Buffy St. Marie was a fraud

[@anndarcy8193]

I read she threatened her family but I wondered about all the people she grew up with. I think in those days people had more privacy to re- invent themselves as they chose ( for better or worse)

[@JDoe-gf5oz]

@@anndarcy8193It would come up every few years but nobody really cared about some old hippie folk singer and the media never pushed it.

[@thelocalmaladroit8873]

Wow! This is a real eye opener, Doc . Buffy latched onto a “ pretendian” identity and it brought her much success. I would have never thought to question her heritage. Thanks so much!

[@QueenOfTheNorth65]

This is so sad. Sesame Street came on the air when I was 4 years old, and I grew up watching Buffy on that show. I learned so much about Native Americans from her appearances there. I just don’t understand how people can go their entire lives perpetrating a fraud on people.

[@ea42455]

Just goes to show that most anyone can successfully teach about other cultures if they possess the knowledge and appreciation of the subject.

[@julietfischer5056]

@@ea42455- Not. the. point. She didn't need to be Indian to do that. Claiming to be Indian was something she did to feel and be special, and it means that the identity of every single BIPOC will be questioned.

[@noellarash367]

If this is false… she fooled everyone… didn’t she? “ I am baffled”

[@SeptemberChild1835]

You make her sound as bad as Trump.

[@PinkyPuff69]

Me too. But nothing can take away the joy and awe we felt watching her on Sesame Street way back then.

[@BunnyTheChi]

I can't believe it's taken this long to expose her story. I'm Canadian and feel very duped by her claims of Indigenous heritage given the way she's benefitted from this.

[@JM-jy7yj]

Many of us have known for DECADES. ok? Many of us are sophisticated and KNOW. I have met this women and she REEKED of performative BULLSHIT. Most of you are NAIVE.

[@bananka4905]

She threatened her family to keep them from speaking the truth. She had the money and good lawyers. They didn't have the money .

[@manlybaker3098]

She threatened to say her father abuse/molested her.

[@rosewoodsteel6656]

I believe it was her brother that she threatened. @@manlybaker3098

[@thedowagerd.2431]

Brother@@manlybaker3098

[@ChampFergus0n]

So, a black activist, an Indian activist and an indigenous (Canadian) activist walk into a bar. No, wait, it’s just 3 woke white women.

[@Alice-ov3rd]

My mom is so upset right now and doesn’t want to believe it. She was a huge fan of Buffy Sainte Marie. I didn’t know until now and after I showed her she went into full blown cognitive dissonance. Thank you Dr. Grande. Sometimes the truth hurts. 😢

[@giabarrone7422]

She still believes Buffy after watching this!?

[@mlovmo]

So Buffy had to be native for your mother to be a fan?

[@Bigern2998]

​@@mlovmoshe appealed to a lot of people more because of her story. Particularly indigenous people.

[@TemujinMSM]

A lot of us aren't buying it.@@Bigern2998

[@TemujinMSM]

Yes period @@giabarrone7422

[@mercuryangel5632]

She isn't even Canadian but received some of the highest honors bestowed to a Canadian. Shameful.

[@uberkloden]

She was born in Nova Scotia.

[@GelarehShayan]

@@uberklodenshe said she was born in sask. she was born in Massachusetts.

[@terrytummons8898]

Lol

[@claudiasangwais1129]

​@@uberkloden 😂😂hahaha Nova Scotia 😂😂hahaha Buffy's identify; "Indigenous Creature or Something Else" America the great 😂😂hahaha

[@MrDLOC11]

She was adopted as a Canadian by the Piapot First Nation in 1964. That counts as legit.

[@JMac-fj1rg]

Back in 1936, a Toronto Star reporter named Gordon Sinclair called up the editor of the North Bay Nugget . He told the editor that he wanted to do an in depth story on Grey Owl, a native naturalist and widely published author. There was a long pause on the other end of the telephone line, then the editor said , "You know he is a fraud , don't you !?" My point ? While the general public wouldn't necessarily know that Buffy Saint-Marie was a pretendian, a whole lot of people, particularly in the Indigenous community knew very well, but chose to say nothing.

[@scarborosasquatchstation1403]

Grey Owl...Recall he was part of the history curriculum taught in collegiate classes across Ontario in the 70's and 80's...

[@peterpiper482]

Grey Owl actually wrote some great tales.Don't know if he made out like Buffy,money wise. Worst thing was he was an English immigrant

[@dallassegno]

So what? Identity is nothing. Means nothing

[@desertari]

Yeah, what IS your point?

[@JMac-fj1rg]

@@desertari While the general public wouldn't necessarily know that Buffy Saint-Marie was a pretendian, a whole lot of people, particularly in the Indigenous community knew very well, but chose to say nothing.

[@SuzettePylant]

It’s amazing how vicious a liar can be when she is called out.

[@samspade1841]

The obsession over native ancestry is absurd. When will people get over the romanticism and charade of all things native. They are people like any other and should not be deified or vilified.

[@spmoran4703]

As a Irish Celt who has to put up with people thinking we are pagan and believe in fairies and such things . So we are special to many and can do pagan magic . Who is supposed to hate the English . They are just people . I can understand were you are coming from . There is nothing special about Native North Americans. There is nothing special about any people except that they are people .

[@timhazeltine3256]

What's the real issue? Perhaps because it takes a little bit of the spotlight off of Caucasians?

[@birdn4t0r7]

@@timhazeltine3256 cuz people are pretending to be native? lol found buffy

[@Ineedallthemoneywade]

It's the power of being a victim, look at the victim Olympics going on in the US one big fight over whose the biggest victim because whosever at the top of the pyramid gets the most power.

[@censusgary]

Over the years, I’ve spent a lot of time with people of a lot of different cultures, and I’ve come to the same conclusion as you: People are just people, irrespective of their ancestry or nationality or tribe. Those kind of identities don’t make a person better or worse than anybody else. I have to judge each person on his or her own merits, not by what I think about the group the person purportedly belongs to.

[@crassspews596]

The Rachel Dolezal of Indigenous people

[@wormwoodcocktail]

Her and Elizabeth Warren. And Dylan and Bruce Jenner are the Rachel Dolezals of women.

[@fj2201]

lmao

[@s.peters2866]

😂😂😂

[@ThatGuy182545]

I was just thinking about cracking a joke about ol’ Rachel. 😂

[@STR82DVD]

Agreed and for 60 bloody years. Damn. You have to admire the longevity of her fraud. Bloody amazing really.

[@bengt_axle]

What is most incredulous is that the doctor who delivered her, also delivered her brother and signed her birth certificate. Her brother attempted to call her out by contacting a local newspaper -- decades ago -- and she threatened him. The whole family knew she was making the story up and Buffy never had a doubt that she was not adopted. For the earliest years of her life with her siblings, she had light brown or even blond hair and had quite a normal family life with her family. It was only in her early 20's that she decided to change her identity because it fit well with her singing. She has defrauded the world for over 60 years. She should apologize to the indigenous communities she mislead and to the Canadian population.

[@Tiglath-PileserXIX]

I suspect her family was complicit in the fraud when she became famous and successful.

[@renatatarnawski5974]

Shania Twain has done the same She's Irish Her step-dad was either part or pure indian

[@molliwilson5639]

Yes, her biological mother I’m sure recalled giving birth to her and her siblings. She is a horrible person to accuse her brother of sex crimes if he continues to expose her, she is obviously sociopathic

[@molliwilson5639]

@@Tiglath-PileserXIX That was 65years ago. They had nothing to gain by being complicit and perhaps had no idea how to discuss her lies to the public

[@helenestiernstrand6575]

Shes only defrauding dumb people who belives ”identity” is more impostant than talent. If she wants to dress as an Induan its totally up to her. Doesnt make her one though. Its just the identity-marxists who belive such nonsense. Incetivise ”race” and this is what you get.

[@LWilliamsYoutube]

Wow, I'm from Saskatchewan and always supported Buffy St. Marie with pride for her musical accomplishments. This deception saddens me about her disguised identity.

[@SweetUniverse]

One of my friends is native american. When she was in college in the 60s, she joined the Indian Club. When they heard Buffy St. Matie was going to be in town, they had fundraisers & pooled their money to get her to do a concert for them. She blew them off. She was seen at a party that night for the rich, white & beautiful instead.

[@fabiengerard8142]

Quite a desillusion, I imagine, but had she first accepted their proposal, and later cancelled it for a more lucrative offer?!? Whatever, professional artists have quite a few prior commitments sometimes, and and also full agendas. Sometimes they’re sincerely willing to be kind, and say yes for an extra one… before realizing that very day they really won’t make it ! (I happened to know such situation backstage).

[@jecarlin]

Kinda like how at Harvard, the Native American student association wanted to meet with Elizabeth Warren but she never did.

[@marymckenna6482]

Sweet, I saw her in person in the 70's and was taken aback at her appearance- it was like she was a charicature of a native person- tons of indian jewelry, animal skins, fringe- and her hair was clearly dyed a deep black. What I remember most is the dark orange tone to her face, heavily made-up, and her lips were powdered white as if to emphasize her dark make-up.

[@wendycrawford1792]

@@fabiengerard8142 Yes. Well, l don’t think that was the case here. She could have been decent enough to ‘hang with the students who’d pooled their money for her, and gone to the fancy party after spending some time with the students. These parties do tend to go on into the wee hours. She could have made her grand appearance, and been fashionably late.

[@mothball5425]

A lot of stories coming out in KZbin comments atm 😢

[@DalitisHebrewnotHindu]

Disappointed at this woman She destroyed her own brothers legacy and life for her selfish ways 😢

[@Attmay]

False accusations of CSA are never acceptable, and they make it more difficult for actual victims to be believed and to come forward. She is the girl who cried wolf so she could appear on TV with Oscar the Grouch. I bet ol’ Oscar’s gonna be more grouchy when he learns the truth.

[@aparnarajesh]

she betrayed indigenous community by claim she is one of them and it was sad for indigenous Canadians who see Buffy as their idol for music and her family who care her, were victims of her selfish ways

[@cleopatra1633]

@@Attmay All SA allegations should come with proof. There is too much dishonesty.

[@yvonnejohnson7557]

There was a very young and talented native girl who suffered what we all have, and she struggled with attributes to this abuse, she tried to use her gifts to sing, she entered into a contest in which so did Buffy, she took it all, the young native girl who lost to buffy, left and committed her own death. Now Buffy still dose what she did and done, even at the cost of real young native women's lives shame on her.

[@mushkego]

When you build your house of cards based on lies it will crumble. I, too looked up to her as a Cree performer and that she was, a lying performer! She has robbed our people of honours that she lied about. The saddest thing about this is she has convinced and lied to herself she is one of us. Today I agree with you Doc.

[@saphire9823]

It's so disheartening

[@Orangecat1996]

I'm not indigenous but it was for me an honour to live in a James Bay community for three years and meet and work amongst the folks whose ancestry dates back 10000 years in that region. This deception is painful to think about in this time of truth and reconciliation when our First Nations are seeking support and reparations for all the damage that they have suffered. It must be especially difficult for the people of the Piapot Nation who have welcomed Buffy into their hearts and families. How can this be made right?

[@elkalabaw7665]

i only knew her as a singer when i was a kid in the 60s and really liked her songs "take my hand for awhile" and "until it's time for you to go." it was only in the 70s when i learned that she was an "indian" after i watched "soldier blue" which featured her song of the same title.

[@arxsyn]

@@Orangecat1996 she can relieve us from this pain by taking responsibility/accountability for her hurtful actions. She spoke of truth/reconciliation, but she's a hypocrite, plus it's a way to dodge any admission to wrong doing. The more she deflects blame, obfuscate truth the more pain she inflicts. She's denying everyone relief. Only she has the medicine. I know, it's hard to swallow when the same poison is also medicine... It also pains me this sickness is so widespread

[@alexhidell8022]

How many people died in this tragedy?

[@Gobble_de_Goop]

Buffy, Hilarious Baldwin, Rachel Dolezal, and Elizabeth Warren should do a reality show series together. What a trip that would be!! 😂😂

[@JDoe-gf5oz]

Rachel's performing on OnlyFans now. It's something else.

[@buzzymm]

ABC's Celebrity Race Swap

[@ericwalstrand3512]

We need to add Shaun King (Talcum X) to the list.

[@cleopatra1633]

Or a show of black americans calling themselves africans and walking around in african costumes and acting like eternal victims. Just as silly.

[@angeladansie4378]

Elizabeth Warren grew up with family stories about indigenous heritage, specifically that her parents had to elope because her father's family didn't approve of her mother because of her Native American ancestry. She took a DNA test & released the results. While she didn't have enough Native American DNA for tribal enrollment, the test did show Native American ancestry. And her career wasn't built on her minority ancestry like the others you mentioned.

[@saspredydious9295]

I can definitely see a problem with falsely claiming indigenous heritage. For instance, here in Australia we provide billions of dollars to our First Nations people to improve their lives etc. Recently there has been an upsurge in people falsely claiming FN status. Unfortunately, these people only have to tick a box; no evidence required. This takes funding away from the folk that it was intended for. The people that need it.

[@MicahMicahel]

it'd be weird if men tried to somehow game the system to receive funding that goes to women.

[@dinkster1729]

@@MicahMicahel They do participate in sports events where they have a better chance of winning or placing well as women since transgender women do do better than most women.

[@FrostySloth]

​@@dinkster1729im pretty sure you're replying to a what one might call "sarcasm"

[@virginiaviola5097]

I thought that you had to actually be recognised by the elder of a specific people in order to be recognised as indigenous? Because if that’s not the case then we should all tick YES, in the ‘do you identify as Indigenous’ box. One way to bridge the gap..money, medicine and education for everyone. And then we could all help each other.

[@statementleaver8095]

You're ALL Fleas on a Dogs back! FN has NO Education,Wasn't Born in a Hospital. Where's the rest of You have 2 Passports!

[@valeriemacphail9180]

DNA clears all doubts! She pointedly refuses to have hers tested. Her parents must have been deeply hurt at her longstanding treachery.

[@harrietyarmill2873]

Shame in the family

[@valeriemacphail9180]

@@ericschulze5641 She also looks Calabrese or anywhere from the Magna Grecia region. Add some ethnic props, a bit of make-up and she's good to go!

[@Coffeedrinker291]

The saddest thing about this is not that she’s claiming to be part of a different race, but that she is denying her parents and all her family.

[@Coffeedrinker291]

I want to add though that the birth certificate isn’t that important though. When my mother remarried and her new husband adopted us, even though my father was alive, since he gave up his rights, our birth certificates were changed and it literally says on them that my mother’s second husband is our father, even though we didn’t meet him until we were four years old. (I’m a twin that’s why I’m saying we).

[@mayloo2137]

​@@Coffeedrinker291She wasn't adopted. Stop making excuses for her.

[@Coffeedrinker291]

@@mayloo2137 I’m not. I was just saying that you can’t always believe a birth certificate, which is nuts…

[@mayloo2137]

@Coffeedrinker291 in this case, the birth certificate doesn't lie. Her son's dna matched that of BSM's sister. So no indigenous blood from his maternal side of the family.

[@Essie3063]

​@@Coffeedrinker291 yes but your dad gave up his legal rights to you. My bio mother did the same to me, when my adopted mother and biological dad adopted me.

[@churchofpos2279]

If I remember correctly, Cher also used to claim to be Native American, until she got called out on it. Then admitted she was Armenian.

[@JH-td4mn]

Yeah she did an album called Half Breed 🙄

[@johng4093]

Some folks see everyone as either an Oppressor or Oppressed group and want to change teams to be with the "victimized". That way nobody can criticise them without being called a racist, colonialist, or whatever.

[@zackzittel7683]

@@johng4093 so true.

[@kaydenpat]

Had no idea Cher wasn’t half Indigenous. Wow. Learned something new today. To my eyes, she certainly looked like a Native American.

[@headlessspaceman5681]

So at least Cher came clean

[@brendalee6983]

Shame on her. All lies. Awful what she did to her brother.

[@Sotzume]

I have been a devotee of Buffy Sainte-Marie since 1966 in my teens. She inspired me to teach myself the guitar and eventually I performed her songs along with many of the famous folk singers of that period. I even attended UMass Amherst as an undergrad and saw her perform in the spring of 1971 where she was given a standing ovation as a fellow alum of UMass. I always thought she was born in Maine and was Cree and adopted. Of course, one's heroes often fail and this came as a total shock to me. To find out one's hero is a fraud, and a deplorable liar to gain fame, fortune on the backs of others, is dispiriting. I wish she would come clean but at her age, in her early 80's, I don't believe she will. I did not know about the DNA test of her sister and I wondered why Buffy didn't just take a DNA test herself to reveal her actual parentage, but then, she knew she wasn't Indigenous, didn't she...so why take the test.

[@Shastavalleyoutdoorsman]

She may have become delusional over time.

[@jamesrobertson9149]

That is interesting. Was her heritage a factor in why she got a standing ovation do you remember?

[@wormwoodcocktail]

Your story is fascinating. I’m a younger fan of Buffy and very sad. Any other folk musicians you like?

[@wormwoodcocktail]

@ pipermccool I like Baez a lot. I actually prefer Buffy’s cover of House Carpenter to Baez. I also like the work of Baez’s sister and brother-in-law, Mimi and Richard Farina. I haven’t heard Joe Hill by Baez live at Woodstock. I’ll check it out. Thank you.

[@Sternodox]

​@@wormwoodcocktailCheck out Sandy Denny.

[@46metube]

Imagine living your entire life as a lie. Human behaviour is indeed mysterious & sad.

[@oftin_wong]

40% of Americans believe in a Christian afterlife of one type or another, you could look at that through the same lense or some Islamic country with an even higher rate of general delusion, Africans who believe in witches and magic Humans are fantastic at following delusions for a lifetime

[@ahkulthood9999]

It happens more than you can imagine. You would not even believe if I told you.

[@MicahMicahel]

funny how race is not as big as a deal as sex/gender but we allow people to say they are whatever gender they want. Race being not as big of a deal should be not even a controversy. everyone shocked at this that is a leftist, is a total hypocrite that doesn't do their own thinking.

[@raedawn7991]

😂

[@kevintse2870]

There’s a thing called kayfabe. Also all golden age Hollywood stars had fake backstories.

[@1967PONTIACGTO]

It's taken me a long time to accept the case against Buffy Sainte-Marie, but this is a convincing summary... especially the DNA test linking her sister and son

[@Satah-bi4nd]

I m very disappointed in this person she mocked indigenous people who suffered in the foster care system during 60s scoop and residential school survivors.these hainieosr crimes are not agame or a joke I'm part Spanish and indigenous.being indigenous is a blessing and a struggle.i give Creedence and respect to.what has happened to survivors of residential school and foster care.buffy saint Marie should not have lied .she should have just been honest.and be an ally to indigenous people s not culturally misappropriation.of indigenous person culture and way of life

[@desertari]

And you care because ?

[@kaydenpat]

@@desertariBecause it’s a story of deception and celebrity. Next question? Or do you have something better to do than asking silly questions?

[@desertari]

And your mission in life is to track the moral purities or impuities of others?@@kaydenpat

[@laughingnoneedformakeup8014]

I didn't hear about a DNA test

[@Tevoro1962]

My mother told me, back in the early 1970's, when I was a kid, that Buffy was notorious for lying about her indigenous heritage. So - apparently this controversy is quite old.

[@lindajones8101]

An old controversy it seems in which people who knew her personally either from her childhood, or I have also heard from her early early days in the music scene, knew about it, about her false identity, but the rest of us never got the memo!

[@catlover-fo1jy]

not to people who lived outside of Mass.

[@roseannefreese4685]

As a descendant of Canadian Kanienkehaka (Mohawks) of Trois Rivieres, Quebec, I am appalled by Buffy "St. Marie's" lies. Unlike this prima donna poseur, my family endured generations of keeping our ancestral identity a secret for fear of being lynched, repatriated from Chicago to Canada, or the family being broken up and sent to an unknown reservation. And unlike this woman's claims, Canadian and US record keeping is excellent and many cousins and I have shared many stories, documents and photos of our family's true history. Thanks to the internet, we even have a photo of our great-great grandmother and her marriage certificate showing her identity and birthplace. What really frosts me is the suffering, fear, and trauma that my family endured and for the bravery they showed in keeping our history alive -- even though we have never "belonged" to a Reservation. We assimilated as "French" in order to survive but our identity has always remained the same. I'm 64 now but I remember as early at 7 years old of being asked, "Do you have a Chinese grandma or grandpa?" And my confidently responding, "No, I'm part Indian." Our heritage is not a piece of clothing that can be bought or sold. Not for one day can I forget who I am or where my family came from. For this woman to steal our heritage and lie about her own family is a real travesty and shows no respect for all that we Native Nations have endured and all the wonderful Traditions we continue to pass forward. Ehtho Niotonhakne Onkwa Nikonra -- Now Let Our Minds Be One.

[@tanler7953]

As long-time British allies, the Mohawks played a critical role in the history of the continent. Because the current ideology in the academic community has been so hostile to the process of colonialism and the Euro-centric vision, many indigenous writers have attempted to white-wash events, pretend that Mohawk warrior culture never existed or existed merely as a reaction to European excess. The British colonies would have perished, and Canada would not exist today as a nation, had the Mohawks not intervened in their favor.

[@jim2376]

Well said.

[@jerushamaxwell281]

@roseannefreese4685 - From the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory - Kwe! Happening to go to Montreal in my teens during the early 70's, I'd been approached by a stranger who said he 'couldn't figure out my face', then asked if I was Chinese, Japanese or Eskimo. When I answered with my Nation, he said, "Don't be ashamed of that," as if being soothing. Over the next several occasions of expecting exactly that phrase, I'd say to myself, "Wait for it..." I'd give a short answer that we Mohawks think very highly of who we are as survivors, plus that our ironworkers are widely famed for their fearless skills. Those rude folks reacted like I had insulted them. Were not worth my time! My ancestors did confer a high blood quantum (as it's called), to qualify my family's right to band membership. My great-great-grandparents and their descendants farmed for their living. Having endured childhood poverty during the Great Depression, my Mom succeeded as a teacher, and my Dad spent decades commuting to NYC to build skyscrapers and bridges. They gave my brother and me a much easier life, and influenced us to also work steadily. The Buffy revelations made me sad that she'd been so conniving, but she did have the looks to carry off the pretense. The pride that natives had taken in her, is headed for a fall. Our family's life path was nowhere near as difficult as yours. Wishing you peace and comfort!

[@AB-un4io]

Thank you so much for sharing your story. It moved me as it was profound. I’m not Canadian and I’m not anything but a “European” mongrel. For years I felt “guilty” about that…which was absolutely not helpful to anyone. I’ve learned to be proud of who I am as who I am has almost nothing to do with my heritage!! Being brave doesn’t mean you’ve “conquered” fear. It makes someone brave to do something despite the very real fear they’re feeling. That’s true bravery. I wish you well in all your endeavors. 🙏🏼🫶🏼🙏🏼 🙂

[@celinemccutcheon1988]

Dear Roseanne, so sorry to hear what your family endured.....not fair, sending l❤ve from Ontario, et paix🫂

[@echopeakbicycling85]

A late character actor, "Iron Eyes" Cody, who portrayed the "Weeping Indian" in an old environmental advertising campaign, was actually of Sicillian ancestry. Totally agree with your summary here.

[@pipermccool]

Yes!

[@frakismaximus3052]

That's right! He played many small parts in movies as native american!

[@doubled3962]

Exactly! I was thinking the same thing .

[@duanehorton4680]

Sicilian, not Sicillian.

[@jeffhildreth9244]

He never claimed to be Native American.

[@BrenB125]

It's one thing to identify as something but its another to use blackmail to protect your own lies.

[@cleopatra1633]

Identifying as someone or something else is pathetic.

[@1victim27]

​@@cleopatra1633 Definitely. Folks need to be proud of their history and ancestry. Personally, I'm a proud irish, through and through, never felt the need to pretend or be something I'm not because I already come from a rich culture that fulfills everything.

[@l-train7876]

Im always fascinated with the people that carry on big elaborate lies. Like pretending to be a different ethnicity or pretending to have cancer. So wild🍿.

[@julietfischer5056]

Their need to be special is a full-blown psychological problem. We're way past kids claiming to be secret extraterrestrials or royalty or ninja or whatever.

[@lv7603]

It has to involve some form of narcissism I couldn’t imagine keeping a lie going for that long seems exhausting.

[@julietfischer5056]

@@lv7603- Eventually, if enough people accept it, momentum maintains the illusion. That can also be the most dangerous time, as the perpetrator can become overconfident or careless and let something slip.

[@pixel9548]

Pretending to be single with no kids...

[@25Soupy]

Elizabeth Warren must be so proud of her.

[@jasoncampbell2194]

Read about Grey Owl…who passed off as an ingenious Canadian, writer, speaker and conservationist - but was born as Archie Delaney in the United Kingdom. Quite amazingly he returned to the U.K. on a speaking tour and even have a Royal Command Performance at Buckingham Palace.

[@catherinelincoln9830]

Sounds a bit like Princess Pale Moon, born Rita Stutz, who “discovered” her Indian heritage as an adult and founded the American Indian Heritage Foundation.😏

[@frakismaximus3052]

What's a bit sad though is, these fakes do actually do a lot for indigenous people by way of increasing their profile before they are found out. Also look up author Joseph Boyden.

[@georgecoventry8441]

@@frakismaximus3052 - Yes, they do. And there are numerous examples of that.

[@paulastahl2654]

He is still honored in Canada

[@australien6611]

Her statement titled "My truth , as i see it" tells you everything you need to know

[@mrabene87]

Reminds of similar statement of another imposter, mm in her disgraceful interview with oprah...

[@vilstef6988]

As a US Senator said someyears ago, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts. There's Buffy with her own facts. . .

[@JM-jy7yj]

Yes this is the kind of mealy mouthed mush brained response you get from a Liar now. But the PUBLIC is responsible for their insistance on buying into the insane indentity politics of this destroyed country.

[@Azulakayes]

​@@mrabene87Our girl Rachel aka Nkechi Diallo 😂😂😂

[@kpcntry]

​@@vilstef6988It wasn't Elizabeth Warren

[@gloryinfinita5380]

That entire early 60s NYC folk scene was made up of affluent young adults who wanted to be or pretended to be something that their not. Back then journalists wrote that Pete Seegar had blue collar roots and he was singing for the "working man", yet his dad was a Harvard professor and his mom was a teacher at Julliard. Early on Dylan was written up to have been "a young Minnesota guy who spent his youth freight train hopping like his idol Woody Gutherie", yet he was just a middle class kid who dropped out of University of Minnesota and went to New York. And obviously Buffy and her team ran with the Algonquin, Mi’kmaq, and Cree tribe bits. People were a bit more gullible back then and journalist obviously did not do in depth reporting. Money talks and it reminds you that the music business is all an act at the end of the day.

[@charleybarley939]

Dylan's aim was to monetize folk.

[@figplucker3052]

Yes, a true pioneer in the field of alternative facts

[@Ariadne76-k3d]

If her lie about being adopted were true and she didn't know who her parents were, then she obviously couldn't know if they were indigenous or not. Even her lies were pretty riduculous, and very insulting to her parents!

[@Ken-fh4jc]

I mean it is certainly possible someone who is adopted their adoptive parents would know some details from their background.

[@SG-xo5ug]

I don’t think you understand adoption… I’m adopted, and most people know the country or people group they are from. That doesn’t mean they know their parents.

[@marytataryn5144]

Yes, I watched a Fifth Estate episode yesterday on this, one of her brothers was taking her to task and she threatened him with a lawyer, and in a personal letter, said she was going to tell everyone he molested her when they were kids. (which was unfounded)

[@robbiesharp311]

@@SG-xo5ug I'm also adopted and native here in Utah. I know my heritage complete because of the LDS church. They kept and keep wonderful records. ♥ Did I mention I'm adopted and love my adopted parents. 😇

[@carnifaxx]

there are many adopted children, now adults, who have partial information of this type about their biological parents without knowing their names - sometimes new parents were/are given some kind of social background of the child, either before they had chosen them, or after.

[@mykidsaresupercute]

I like that last insight. People want to construct their own identity. I think this one was mostly financially motivated. Maybe in the beginning she pretended for self esteem issues, but quickly learned it was lucrative.

[@hopeausbyn1734]

Did Buffy construct the part about her family hiding their Italian ancestry in the USA to avoid mistreatment? Is this where she was wounded, and carried on the survival instinct? The USA has long mocked people who don't look the part, and the Canadians accepted her because she did.

[@f.austin]

great analysis - thanks for taking the time to share!

[@jabbermocky4520]

I wish Robbie Robertson was still alive. He'd have an interesting perspective on Sainte-Marie, for sure. He was her contemporary in the music biz. He was also tightly integrated into the Indigenous Canadian community because of his mother's genetic heritage. While Robertson played down his Indigenous heritage until later in his career, Sainte-Marie made it her own bold trademark. That's what upsets Indigenous people most, I think, because being Indigenous was a serious hardship for so very long and remains that way. Nobody wanted to brag about it. Buffy did. Interesting, eh?

[@tracevicente]

You are right about this. I grew up with Richard Manuel’s nephews in SW Ontario and the Band’s extended family was super close back in the day. Not a word. Not one about Robbie’s heritage. It was solely about the music.

[@katiejai9848]

Thats because she never had to live it!! she just took the accolades and attention--

[@AndySabola11]

She did many commendable things. Inventing a false background as your persona is deeply pathological.

[@trog.lodyte]

For years Cher played an indian in her career when she's in reality an Armenian.

[@Kieron-e5l]

She did more good than harm! Its pathological to claim she was pretending alone!.and there is a difference between pretending and being absorbed into a different identity!

[@berndtherrenvolk1951]

@@Kieron-e5lYou’re Elizabeth Warren, aren’t you?

[@Kieron-e5l]

@@berndtherrenvolk1951 who is that?

[@landofthelivingskies3318]

​@@Kieron-e5l....BLUFFY AINT CREE IS HER NAME NOW.

[@billybarty100]

The sick thing is, people who do this type of thing always have malice and hatred in their heart for their own people

[@xxcelr8rs]

The people that buy an artists product just because they are some down trodden race are sick. White girls haven't bought American white boy music since the Beach Boys. Yo MTV rap.

[@Hoppenoffer]

Bull pucky. “Always” come on

[@asuperstraightpureblood]

They do. Now she wanders the shadow realm, the girl without a family or a home. Lol

[@Xposingdarkness]

Her threatening her own family for exposing her as a liar by making up sexual misconduct is extremely disgusting.

[@celiajenks9885]

It's really easy today to prove who you are with a DNA test. DNA tests don't lie

[@nancybosse645]

Iam Canadian and can accept that Buffy is just another liar but what she did to her own family is appalling!

[@Attmay]

She didn’t just lie to and threaten people. She lied to *Big Bird* and her initial threat of threatening to call her brother an abuser revolved around her appearance on that show. He sent a letter to the producers, and she threatened to publicly call him p3d0 and sue him into bankruptcy. The brother could have easily won his case in a court of law just by finding that birth certificate, the one she claimed never existed. The way she keeps moving the goalposts for what constitutes being indigenous only adds to the dumpster fire this is turning into.

[@michaelb.9231]

is there a hospital record? when kids were part of the 60's scoop, records were altered to claim stolen kids were their own, it happened...still not convinced she is lying...is there a baptismal record?

[@jamesmorrison2055]

@@michaelb.9231 The sixties scoop began in '51. She was born a decade earlier. There was a doctor IN THE ROOM when she was born. Her son's DNA test matches her biological family. Impossible if she were adopted. Why also would a couple from Massachusetts randomly be passing through a Saskatchewan reservation and just happen to adopt a baby while there? That alone makes zero sense.

[@avagrego3195]

just another liar is well put

[@CorryGal]

Don't be too harsh on Buffy. She did what she had to do. If you were in her moccasins, perhaps you'd do it too.

[@markhamilton8765]

I have been keeping a spreadsheet of notable Canadian music artists…it’s actually quite an impressive list! Buffy, you are now OFF the list. What irks me most about this sad case is all of my hard earned Canadian tax dollars that have been used over the decades to prop up this horrible woman. Good on the CBC for finally outing Buffy Saint Marie.

[@frakismaximus3052]

She also has the Order of Canada and she's not even Canadian lol

[@jecarlin]

@@frakismaximus3052 Canada: she doesn't even go there.

[@gbinman]

How many of the notable Canadian music artists have impeccable life stories? I would guess, very few.

[@coralieelliott2076]

but at least they are Canadian--and yes we do have many notable music artists--Ever heard of Leonard Cohen or David Foster, Shania Twain, Drake ,, Celine Dion, Justin Bieber, the Poppy Family, etc, etc. @@gbinman

[@jecarlin]

@@gbinman This is a pretty big whopper.

[@davejones6130]

Dear Governer Generals Office of Canada, As a Canadian I am shocked and appalled by the revelations made about Buffy Sainte-Marie - or rather "Beverly Jean Santamaria" who is her real name by birth - in the CBC's most recent episode of The Fifth Estate. After watching this entire episode from start to finish it is 100 % clear to me that Ms Saint-Marie is firstly NOT CANADIAN, and secondly NOT OF ABORIGINAL Culture. The fact that she falsely and selfishly adopted this persona to further her career and then used her Lawyers to threaten and persecute her very own birth family in the USA when they tried to expose her as a fake is completely abhorent. In terms of your organization, I cannot stand by and not protest the fact that this woman was given The Order of Canada honor under completely false pretenses. The Order of Canada is now tainted by this situation ; its a national embarrassment that we were fooled and tricked by this woman, and something must be done about it. The First Peoples of Canada are making a decades long case for "Truth and Reconciliation", and its ironic that this now applies to someone who claimed to be one of their own and abused their culture in the process. With this letter I hereby call for Buffy Sainte-Marie to be stripped of her title of Officer of the Order of Canada which was awarded on April 17, 1997. This award was based on her actions under the fake identity of being aboriginal and a real canadian.... I quote from your website: " Born of Cree parents on the Piapot Reserve in Saskatchewan ". The Order of Canada is for Canadian born citizens; she is effectively disqualified based on this falsehood alone and must give up this title and "face the music" I would appreciate your office's prompt attention to this important matter, as this is hurting a huge amount of people and they need to get some relief. I trust that you will act on this and clean up this mess for the benefit of our country's honour and also our aboriginal peoples who have been lied to for over 50 years, and didn't deserve this. Thank you

[@ktdale1340]

Damn I wish I could copy and paste this. You nailed it from the first paragraph to the last one.

[@facistbuster]

As a canadian with a great-great-grand mother who was from the first nation i'm deceived and disappointed by Buffy Ste-Marie's career. It's irreparable.

[@Tiglath-PileserXIX]

I absolutely second your opinions. This woman stole the identity of an entire ethnic group of peoples and profited from such theft. This is so wrong on so many levels.

[@andreacc7795]

I received a Gov General's Award and earned it. I agree that her award should be taken back

[@leannemo7382]

💯🎯 As a woman of Canadian Iroquois/Mohawk decent, THANK YOU!! 👏👏👏

[@glenngrant6886]

A lot of people weren’t truthful about their identity, changing the spelling of names, trying to blend in. She wasn’t proud of her Italian heritage and decided to identify with indigenous ways and tradition and even adopted by an indigenous sect. Smart business woman.she saw an opportunity as an indigenous entertainer and became the most famous, I guess she fooled a lot of people, but she was a positive to the indigenous community until proven to be a fakeindian, where were the real ones.

[@JeeJeeBeats]

I live in Quebec, it is so humiliating. Her parents should have been shocked when she says she's born in Saskatchewan. First time I hear the whole story so thanks a lot Doc. ❤

[@rossmacintosh5652]

Indeed, Buffy's need to develop her false identity seems to have known no bounds. Imagine how she willingly heaped hurt on her real parents, grandparents, siblings etc. by falsely claiming she was adopted. Seems the false identity started as a gimmick to help the young folk singer be noticed and perhaps give gravitas to the protest messages of her lyrics.

[@AhNee]

There is an old game show that she was on. When asked where she was born, she says Massachusetts. This whole "lie" story is BULLSHIT.

[@lhl9010]

she is this is a lie

[@AhNee]

@@lhl9010 To the opposite, just dealt with some cowardly bitch from Poland on Pinterest claiming my statements about Jay Tavare are false. Dude is PERSIAN, it's been proven, plus, he's abusive to women and elders, and no one at either tribe he claims knows of him, any "family", etc. And he's also stolen money from elders. He's been sued for spreading herpes, as well. But HIM they'll believe??? Friend of mine was originally his talent agent, and she dropped him when she found out he was lying, so he started making violent threats towards her, for which she was granted a five year restraining order, to which he said, "As soon as that RO expires, I'm going to bash her fucking skull in with a lead pipe!" He's also always talking about his parents and sister---IN IRAN!

[@rl3293]

Now she's claiming her mom told her privately, between the 2 of them, that she "may" have been born outside the marriage. What a terrible claim to make, against her long gone mom, just to retain her riches and story. Her lies still keep evolving. She's become famous because of her native claims. She claimed that she was oppressed as a native. BS. I'm a white woman with some Choctaw ancestry. My grandmother was born on the Oklahoma rez Indian Territory. The BIA has always maintained native roles very well. My grandmother, her siblings and her mother are all listed in the Dawes Rolls.

[@AndySabola11]

Just like Shaun 'my mom was a ho' King.

[@Aaron-kj8dv]

Like that Shaun King guy who keeps saying he's a product of his mom cheating on his dad with a black guy. It's so sinister, even if true to put it out there like that.

[@sr2291]

Every Native family is not on the Native rolls. My ex supposedly had NA ancestry from some obscure tribe but try finding it. It's probably from a female who married into the family before 1850 in Tennessee. His family pics definitely show some mixing of something for a supposedly White family. It would probably take extensive research and many of the records were destroyed in the Civil War.

[@NutsItsBerserkinTime]

@@AndySabola11Wait are you talking about Talcum X or Martin Luther Cream?

[@skunkrat01]

​@@AndySabola11had no idea who this was. Thank you for prompting me to look him up so I could read #ShaunKingSuccessStories

[@patriciamoar8440]

I believe the media was right to call her out

[@jessestewart169]

Absolutely. She's a fraud.

[@kpax45]

I am amazed she got away with this FRAUD for so long!

[@ydoicare2000]

Well duhh

[@caroledrury1411]

Following this recent story and being quite taken aback. I was such a fan of hers when I was young for the reasons that she portrayed. I like your ending comment that she could be ahead of her time in re-creating this identity. However it Was often practiced In history, the search for superimposed identity. No one seems to mention that she was a creative songwriter. I’m glad you mentioned her as a narcissist because in the end it is a psychological fault despite her talent. Thank you for your commentary

[@Ralph-id3xg]

They do mention in the Fith estate documentary that she is a talented musician and songwriter. The lady with the curly hair says it.

[@bananka4905]

This story shocked me . Especially when she wanted to throw her biological family under the bus. To ruin them. They didnt have the money to retaliate and she knew this. How horrible. And yet she still maintains this lie.

[@krissalkond]

Why cant she be a indian if she wants to?

[@Rovingdog628]

Well, Donald Trump is maintaining HIS lies on the witness stand, under oath. Who's the bigest liar and which one should you be more concerned about?

[@mariebussinger6565]

@@Rovingdog628 more concerned about Biden's crazy spending to get his 10%.

[@Attmay]

What lie? Everything Donald Trump has said has been the truth.

[@newfful]

That part about denying her family and threatening her brother really got to me. I have a sister who used to relish in being a victim and lying about our whole family. I was her "stepsister" and our dad was a raging drunk who beat us. None of it was true but of course the people she told this to believed her over us. She would leave the kids with me or my parents to babysit until she officially left with some guy. Now it’s all coming back on her. My nieces are older and angry at her. Some of her friends she have stopped believing in her bs and the guy she’s with left her. Long story short she apologized to us but only because she wants a place to live rent free. She put us through so much as well her children. They don’t want to be around her. Liars of the narcissistic sort really do a lot of damage and make it hard for real victims to be heard.

[@ianpeddle6818]

What’s more disappointing was that she wasn’t slaying vampires all those years

[@jillybe1873]

Yes, that is a disappointment, I was thinking the same thing.

[@adifferentpointofview105]

My favourite bit in the original documentary on the subject is the woman in charge of the birth certificate records. She's totally cool. A good honest person just doing her job.

[@fabiengerard8142]

As seen from Europe, she was looking like a kind of monster to me, though. Not everyone has the same POV!

[@dimitriosotis8632]

We need more people like that.

[@mikeminden1090]

And your evidence is . . . nothing but this documentary. Genius.

[@7777Scion]

all her family testimony has more weight than even the fact of the bc

[@dimitriosotis8632]

The Fifth Estate is respected investigative journalism show, been going for like 40 years.@@mikeminden1090

[@jaygosev3589]

I'm an enrolled member of White Earth (Minnesota Chippewa Tribe) and growing up on the Rez, I simply cannot understand why in the F*CK ANYONE would think that claiming to be native was a flex. LOL. F*ck, I go outta my way to distance myself from EVERYTHING associated with being "native." Hell no, lol

[@iphonejacki]

Unbelievable!! I always knew there was something off about her. Pretendian is a perfect description. We have all been duped and wooed into holding “indigenuity” as somehow on a higher plane than say, Caucasian for example. More spiritual, more worthy, more entitled. Buffy was propped up to lead us into this fantasy. As a Canadian, I’m appalled. And embarrassed.

[@janetleemarino8702]

Disgusting that she wouldn't and didn't claim her ancestry of Italian-English heritage, shameful. I grew up close to where she did and around the same time in Massachusetts and an of Sicilian ancestry, my family was then and still am very proud of our ancestry.

[@Someone-kg8qf]

If a man can claim to be a woman because they identify as one I think Buffy is a brave and stunning Native Woman because she identifies as one. Science and genetics don't matter, it's about how you feel.

[@00st307-m]

What’s strange is - she had her own story of immigration and suffering she could have sang about. Like how her family went from Santamaria to Saint Marie. She could have been a voice for Italian Americans and the discrimination they faced as well 🤷🏻‍♀️ Also the song that won her the Oscar had nothing to do with Indigenous identity. So weird to throw this strange lie on all your accomplishments.

[@krissalkond]

Maybe she thought it would cooler to be Native?

[@Someone-kg8qf]

@user-ck2hr5vn8e I wonder if she would have become as famous if she had been honest about her ethnicity? Like Dylan Mulvaney, would he be known if he wasn't pretending to be a 1 yo girl right now? He was just a failed drama student, and then he magically became a girl. Just like Buffy magically became a native woman by saying that is what she is and it got her $$$$$$$.

[@deemarie5534]

Exactly! What's wrong with being Italian? Buffy had enough talent as a musician and was a very beautiful young woman. She could have been proud of that, but she chose to fool us all.

[@wren3347]

It's got to suck not being at peace with who you really are then insisting everyone else on the planet must see you as someone you are not.

[@adesania]

It happens today with the people appearing to be of one gender but claiming to be otherwise and want everybody to acknowledge that.

[@SeptemberChild1835]

Like Trump?

[@noellarash367]

Trump? What does he have to do this topic?

[@nanettevantriesteharder2469]

@@adesania Yes. Forcing loved ones to lie about your identity and your roots to themselves and others is wrong.

[@MicahMicahel]

are you taking about gender or do you notice this is the same issue?

[@danielfinney6071]

Sacheen Littlefeather: Mexican. Iron Eyes Cody: Sicilian. Now this. I was born and raised in Oklahoma, my maternal grandfather (who could have passed for Chief Dan George) was half-French, half-Cherokee. One thing you learn there is the 4% Cherokee I wound up with, which doesn't begin to show on my map-of-Ireland mug, doesn't mean squat. I had a lot of friends with awesome names, and still have a great love for indigenous culture, but I'd get laughed at for trying to claim it. I lived on Kauai for decades, where Buffy also lived for a long time. All the new-age haoles who made a huge deal over claims like "I'm one thirtieth Cherokee" cracked me up. Would love to take them to Red Earth or, better yet, a 49.

[@gregoryluna535]

I saw her response where she said her birth mom confided in her that she hooked up with somebody other than her husband implying her mom hooked up with an Indian. She will go to any lengths to justify her self-proclaimed identity.

[@bebop2523]

So she’s changing her story yet again now that they proved she was never adopted?

[@dimitriosotis8632]

I hadn't heard that---it is the only plausible way she COULD be indigenous. But she'd have to now step forward and PROVIDE EVIDENCE.

[@marymckenna6482]

Right. That was her lowest point, throwing her own mother under the bus to save her butt.

[@VertigoMusicMagazine]

@@marymckenna6482 Her dead mother at that.

[@johng4093]

She's painted herself into a corner and can't escape her lies. Her fans would likely forgive her if she would apologize and come clean.

[@sonjakramer8446]

She also received the Order of Canada in 1997, and won Juneau awards in the Indigenous categories. Our cultures and heritages are being systematically erased. It seems nothing is sacred anymore unless you can identify as something you are not!

[@ItsAllOptics]

And she's now been proven not to be Canadian at all, all her awards need to be called back.

[@jelkel25]

If she was adopted from a Native mother or father she would have been unlikely to know she was Cree. Native and Metis babies who were put up for adoption (willingly or not so willingly) in Canada were purposely not told about their heritage. You can make a rough guess from the area you were born in, that's it.

[@mlovmo]

Not erased, just gamed. And she pulled it off.

[@digital6string1]

And the taxes she evaded@@ItsAllOptics

[@ItsAllOptics]

@@jelkel25 She was Not Adopted. She lied. Her proven birth is in the USA. What an insult to her real mother & father, that she would claim they adopted her. Her brother and sister where severely threatened their lives would be ruined if they kept on trying to tell people she wasn't indigenous back when she first began her lie in her 20s.

[@derek04151]

She's played this game for so long, how does she suddenly entertain the truth now ? She's irrevocably committed to the lie.

[@JM-jy7yj]

She can do this because she was enabled by regular every day Canadians who REFUSE to read and investigate. It is a national disease.....

[@marinalina6348]

Or is she genuinely believing it due to mental illness?

[@footscorn]

Grey Owl was a master and he even fooled royalty. Was invited to Buckingham Palce were he told the royal princes that they would always be welcome in his tipi - I literally couldn't stop laughing.

[@Panwere36]

This is one of the ones I really hoped you would cover, Dr. Grande. Her lie (put all of them as one) was believed for decades... and it was very wrong. Her awards should be taken away from her.

[@cinemathequerouge317]

Why? Why take away her awards? SHE wrote & performed that music. Did you like it? Did her being indigenous make the music better?

[@Panwere36]

@@cinemathequerouge317, did you not watch the video?!? Many of her awards were SPECIFICALLY FOR INDIGENOUS AMERICAN ARTISTS!!! She has no right to them.

[@cinemathequerouge317]

@@Panwere36 Yes, I actually DID watch the video. Many of her awards & accolades were for her ART.

[@Panwere36]

@@cinemathequerouge317, she committed fraud to get them. Her lies were why she got them. It was the height of tokenism, and invalidate her "achievements". And her going onto Sesame Street and allowed to lie to children is the most reprehensible part.

[@mattblom3990]

As a Canadian, one needs to understand there's a measure of collective reconciliation towards First Nations. This is to the point we even have a statutory holiday each year specifically for that. First Nations are entitled to several social benefits, such as major tax cuts, scholarships, and prison sentences must be reviewed, and often reduced, due to what is called the Gladue Principles. It has become a recent issue of people wrongfully claiming indigenous ancestry to take advantage of this. A family from India who immigrated to Canada recently made similar false claims as Buffy.

[@frakismaximus3052]

Good for the India people 😂

[@citytrees1752]

As a Canadian, this is utterly irrelevant to the video at hand. But thanks for telling us what we need to understand.

[@xxcelr8rs]

@@citytrees1752 Government racism perpetrated on racists softheads and soft hearted t expense of non racists is issue. I hope you lose your job to an unqualified special skin color.

[@MicahMicahel]

our government even started fake news, a total lie that has been debunked, that nuns killed native children and had mass graves. Leftists burned down over 50 churches.. over lies. They were filled with rocks for some sort of septic tank system. there was no proof or even clue that it was dead children. It was pure government disinformation to cause chaos.

[@Magdalene777]

I feel awful for her biological family because she's denying them. It must have broke their hearts.

[@ketaleigh6772]

Denied and threatened to slander them! For money and fame. She is vile. This is an old rumor, and I for one am glad it finally came to light.

[@john-p1n6l]

totally evil shes nasty @@ketaleigh6772

[@franks2910]

They must have played along, perhaps grudgingly. I mean what could she actually do to stop them?

[@duanehorton4680]

Broken, not broke.

[@franks2910]

I'm glad someone cares about proper English.@@duanehorton4680

[@texasrefugee7888]

😂 1972 when I was in college I read in the student newspaper an article an African-American student wrote. His article pointed out how Americans love to tell people they are Native American. But nobody claims to be part black.😅

[@sarahg1583]

My husband is Native American & Black. As with the rest of his family, he's been enrolled in the tribe since birth and carries a tribal card. He identifies as Native, but does not deny his Black heritage. What's odd is how others have identified him. i.e "You're not Black, right?" We also know someone from the same tribe (who is also Black), who denies both. He told everyone in high school he was "Italian". ;)

[@jecarlin]

I mean, we did have Rachel Dolezal.

[@texasrefugee7888]

@jecarlin yeah M&M doesn't claim to be, but imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. People point out that Elvis was the 1st white man to sing black music. The Beatles did, too. Rolling stones used killer black female backup singers. Like Gimme Shelter❤️. Bob Dylan, too.

[@sookie4195]

In the 1950s my father told me that we were part Native American. You see nobody wanted to be an Indian back then and they hid it. Now everybody wants to be an Indian.

[@frakismaximus3052]

Because Native Americans are comparatively rare.

[@jordie00bogart]

Good job on this episode, Dr. Grande. I always enjoy your analyses, but this one really stood out. As usual, your objective analysis is without bias and extremely informative.

[@ChristieFolk]

Is anyone upset about the fact that she sent her brother a handwritten letter in the 70's threatening to go to the police about her "sexual sadist abuser" allegations against him, because he mentioned to the Sesame Street producer about her real Italian/English identity? I bet the Sesame Street producers had a harsh sit down with her and told her they wouldn't give her the job unless she guaranteed that her brother would be silenced and never tell the truth about her not being indigenous. So then she mailed off that letter to her brother, along with a threat from her lawyer. Meanwhile, there was a 10 year old little girl living in his house, Buffy's niece. So the take away from this letter is that Buffy was willing to go to the police to protect her career, but not her niece. The outcome? Her brother never brought up her heritage again, and Buffy never went to the police. In the end, Buffy chose protecting her career over protecting her niece...that is IF her sex abuse allegations are true. Which, her letter and her behaviour is making me think that the sex abuse claims are fabricated. If Buffy is sick enough to make up an entire false identity, it's not that much of a stretch to make up a story about being a victim of a crime. Her "growing up family" must be just appalled and so traumatized by her behaviour over the past 60+ years. And when I watch her now and her interviews....I see red flags signalling what I have learned over the years to be narcissistic sociopathic behaviour markers. Buffy, if you were perfectly ready to go to the police in a move to protect your career, you should have been ready to go to the police to protect an innocent 10 year old girl. OR, the whole sexual pedophile story was another lie in a long line of lies. Which is it? I notice in her response to the fifth estate story, she does not deny writing that letter. Thank god her brother kept it. AND ANOTHER INCONSISTENCY! She claims her Mass. family that adopted her is her 'growing up' family, and then there's the Cree family that 'claimed' her....well, didn't her Massachusetts also 'claim' her??? If all her claims are accurate, then she was adopted by two families. So why does she place so much MORE value on the indigenous family than her 'growing up family'. Both adoptive families CHOSE her. But it is obvious she places way more value on the Cree family, because it is key to her financial gain and fame. I never trust a person who places different values on things like family and love.

[@landofthelivingskies3318]

She was never adopted. She had a real loving family growing up. Her siblings are her true siblings, meaning same mom...same dad. Right up till her 20s, she lovingly called them mom and dad. Then she decided she could pretend to be native, and make money doing it. One thing I'll give Canada credit for was there excellent birth records. If there's one thing Canada can take pride in is their indigenous record keeping.

[@katwashere194]

I agree 100%.

[@WildZephyr]

I am sure her sexual abuse allegations were nothing but a lie to shut him up. But yeah, if they were true, imagine leaving your niece like that.

[@bebop2523]

It was actually the opposite with Sesame Street, they weren’t saying that she’d better shut her brother up if she wanted to be on the show, she had already been on the show and the producer met her biological brother by chance on an airplane afterwards and became suspicious. Buffy was never adopted by the family in Massachusetts, they are her biological family. If she had been adopted by them, then it wouldn’t have been an issue for the producer to meet her adoptive brother.

[@VertigoMusicMagazine]

My mother went to school with Buffy St. Marie and she told me for fifty years that Buffy was a fraud. That Buffy was hurting her parents.

[@teaguebates5807]

Heard her performance at the Winnipeg Folk Festival sometime in the 2010’s. It was a great show. Too bad. She should have just stood on her merits instead of stealing opportunities from Cree nation.

[@samanthaw.861]

Is this the kind of thing that could be cleared up with an ancestry DNA test? If it is, she shouldn’t have any hesitation in pursuing that, if what she claims is true.

[@sookie4195]

If I had any doubt about my ancestry, I certainly would have done the DNA when it first became available and so should have she.

[@JustinaGuertin]

Well the fact her sister is biologically related to Buffys son proves Buffy is not adopted but does in fact share the same parents. Buffy doesn’t even need to do DNA …… the other two family members proved it

[@AmbiguousLabel]

DNA tests aren’t reliable and Indigeneity is about more than blood quantum, that’s a colonial construct. Adoption for some Indigenous nations means regardless of blood, you will be recognized as Indigenous or a member of that nation.

[@uwsupergirl]

​@@JustinaGuertinactually not necessarily. Adoption back then was quite different than it is today. It's possible siblings would be adopted. The Canadian government was complicit in separating native children from their families and adopting them out. Birth certificates were created and adoption had a stigma so it would not be discussed. Certainly a DNA test would put an end to these questions.

[@nononoisaidnope]

No it isn't. First: when you're native, it's because you were raised as part of the culture, not because of genetics. Second: native DNA is only detectable by certain tests for natives of certain ancestry. I show taino genetics. My dad was from Puerto Rico. It's very recently been found only in us I believe. I'm almost certain. Doesn't matter as again, culture is what native Americans accept as authentic parentage, not DNA. That's why adoption of native American babies can be stopped by courts on behalf of tribal requests.