Buffy Sainte-Marie, the Oscar-winning folk singer, has had her honorary Doctor of Laws degree revoked by the University of Toronto due to disputed claims about her Native American ancestry. This decision follows a review that revealed her birth certificate indicates she was born to Italian-American parents in Massachusetts, contradicting her long-held identity as Indigenous.

• 01The University of Toronto rescinded Sainte-Marie's honorary degree after a review confirmed her birth certificate shows she is of Italian-American descent.
• 02Sainte-Marie was adopted by a Cree family in Saskatchewan, which she mentioned in previous statements about her identity.
• 03This revocation marks only the second time an honorary degree has been revoked by the University of Toronto since the establishment of its recognition review committee.
• 04Columbia University professor Audra Simpson described the decision as overdue and a necessary consequence of settler colonialism.
• 05Sainte-Marie has expressed that the controversy has been re-traumatizing for her and has accused her estranged brother of sexual abuse.

The revocation of Sainte-Marie's honorary degree could influence public perceptions of Indigenous identity and the scrutiny of honorary recognitions.