Métis artist defends Buffy Sainte-Marie over Indigenous ancestry | CityNews Calgary

The doubts raised about Buffy Sainte-Marie’s Indigenous ancestry don’t matter to 1 Métis Elder and artist, who says the much-loved musician’s advocacy work speaks for itself.

Val Vint admits she doesn’t know what to consider the claims Sainte-Marie wasn’t born to Indigenous dad and mom – a debate renewed after a CBC story Friday.

But Vint says the doubts about Sainte-Marie’s ancestry are totally different than different so-called “pretendians” who’ve been questioned previously.

“Why at 82 years old do they come after her?” requested Vint. “She’s retired. Leave her alone. She’s done so much good for all of our people, for Indigenous people overall.”

Sainte-Marie says she doesn’t know who her start dad and mom are and considers herself a member of the Saskatchewan Cree group. Defenders of the singer say she’s by no means used Indigenous heritage to get forward.

“Often, what I see are these people go in and they get everything they can and they don’t really give anything back,” stated Vint, who feels that’s not the case “at all” with Sainte-Marie.

“If she had come in and just been like, hand out, give me your ceremonies, give me your teachings and then go write a book about it – and there are people like that – I wouldn’t have respect. But she never did that. She was always including community, and that’s Indigenous.”

Vint says it’s clear the group claims her. Piapot First Nation representatives say the group accepts Sainte-Marie as one in every of their very own, and that she was adopted by way of Cree customs.

“She’s a brave, strong, very courageous woman and whatever, she’s adopted by people in the community. That’s fine, and that should be enough.”

Vint says this isn’t the primary time an Indigenous group has adopted or claimed somebody. Patricia Bovey, who’s Caucasian, is acknowledged as an honorary member of Kwakwaka’wakw Nation in B.C. Vint is questioning why the usual is totally different for Buffy.

Vint, 72, says she’s adopted Sainte-Marie’s complete profession, watching her on TV since she was a baby.

“We certain didn’t have lots of people to observe in any films or leisure. She was it, you already know? In Canada, she was it.

“I love her work and I mean, my son grew up watching her on Sesame Street, like thousands and thousands of other kids. She represented us in such good ways.”

Vint says she’s heartbroken over the allegations, which she believes will observe Sainte-Marie for the remainder of her life.

“Trying to not bawl my eyes out… It’s simply, I have a look at that and I understand how I look. So who’s going to problem me in 10 years?

“This is certainly going to leave a stain on her career and her reputation, absolutely. It will however not change an iota all the good she has done.”

Vint doesn’t imagine Sainte-Marie had something to achieve by claiming to be Indigenous throughout her profession.

“As an Indigenous woman in the ‘70s, are you kidding me?” stated Vint. “You couldn’t get a job or housing then if you claimed who you were. And looked like her? No. She’d walk up to a place for rent and I’m sure she got turned away.”

Vint believes folks must put into perspective what number of Indigenous People are nonetheless attempting to entry private data, together with circumstances of their start.

“People always talk history and I laugh at them,” she stated. “The last person in my family to go to residential school is my little sister, who just turned 65. So don’t tell me about ancient history, there’s nothing ancient about it.”

Vint says she remembers having lunch with Sainte-Marie in Winnipeg, and the way it felt to be within the presence of one other Indigenous, feminine artist.

“What you would expect from a decent human being. She was lovely. We had a beautiful lunch together.”

She says that reminiscence is not going to change and he or she’ll proceed concerning the singer as a part of the group.