This isn’t a story about whether Buffy Sainte-Marie — musical icon, activist, community member and beloved Auntie — is biologically Indigenous. Rather, it’s more important to understand the deep impact a CBC report casting doubts on the singer’s ancestry is having across Indigenous lands — and how the fallout from the report shows what reconciliation is not.
But before I go there, allow me to situate myself. It will shed some light about why this story may not sound like the one you are looking for — like most Indigenous peoples, I still need time to digest this news about Buffy — but why the impact of the story is something non-Indigenous people need to hear.
I am a Two-Spirit iskwew. I am the granddaughter of an Indian Residential School survivor and have lived experienced as a ‘60s Scoop survivor. I always knew I was Indigenous, but I didn’t always know where I came from or who claimed me.
