Junos and Polaris Prize Release Statements on Buffy Sainte-Marie's Awards Following Order of Canada Cancellation
Sainte-Marie won the Polaris Prize in 2015 for Power in the Blood and the Indigenous album of the year Juno in 2018 for Medicine Songs.
Buffy Sainte-Marie
The 2025 Juno Award nominations came out today (Feb. 11), and though most focus was on the new honourees, one prior winner was also under the spotlight: Buffy Sainte-Marie.
The acclaimed singer-songwriter's Order of Canada appointment was cancelled last week by The Governor General of Canada, Mary Simon. The decision came a year and a half after CBC's investigation into her claims of Indigenous ancestry and Canadian citizenship. Since then, there has been scrutiny into other awards Sainte-Marie has earned in the country.
CARAS, the body that governs the Junos, released a statement today, saying they are aware of the decision to terminate her Order of Canada.
“We continue to consult with our Indigenous Music Advisory Committee and Indigenous stakeholders on how to best proceed as it relates to Sainte-Marie’s Juno Awards,” the organization said in a statement. “We recognize the importance of Indigenous music as a category and remain deeply committed to promoting, celebrating and honouring the contributions of Indigenous artists to the Canadian music industry.”
In 2023, shortly after the CBC Fifth Estate investigation aired, a group named the Indigenous Women's Collective called on CARAS to rescind Sainte-Marie's 2018 Juno for Indigenous album of the year, which she won for the album Medicine Songs. The group pointed to the win over artist Kelly Fraser, who died a year later.
"We invite the Juno Awards Committee to revisit this 2018 category and explore ways of righting a past wrong," they wrote. "All Indigenous Artists in this 2018 category, including Kelly Fraser, should be reconsidered for this rightful honour."
Sainte-Marie won the Polaris Music Prize, which awards one album as the best in Canada of the year based solely on artistic merit, for her 2015 album, Power in the Blood. For her victory, Sainte-Marie earned a cash prize of $50,000.
Today, the Polaris Music Prize Board released a statement.
"The Polaris Board is aware of the ongoing conversation around Buffy Sainte Marie's Canadian status," they said in a statement. "We have and continue to follow as new information is shared."
Sainte-Marie has said that she has never lied about her identity.
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