Buffy Sainte-Marie is an internationally renowned singer and songwriter, as well as a talented artist, educator and political activist. She is a passionate advocate of Native Americans.

Buffy Sainte-Marie was born to Cree parents on the Piapot Reserve near Regina, Saskatchewan. Orphaned as an infant, she was raised in Massachusetts where her adopted mother (part Micmac) recounted stories of Indian history. By the age of four the musical child had taught herself to play the piano. After receiving a guitar for her sixteenth birthday Buffy began writing songs for her new instrument. Her music developed as she attended university, where Buffy studied Oriental philosphy. Following graduation with a BA the honours student began singing in coffee houses in New York's Greenwich Village. Recording contracts and nightclub performances soon launched Buffy Sainte-Marie to stardom. She also managed to find the time to complete her PhD in 1983.

Buffy Sainte-Marie gained fame for war protest songs (such as "Universal Soldier" on her debut album) as well as her ballads and songs about native peoples. Throughout her career she has devoted much of her time and resources to supporting Native Americans through a variety of educational programs. Her many intiatives include the founding of the Native North American Women's Association, a scholarship fund for Native American law students, teaching music and art at the Saskatchewan Federated Indian College, and the Cradleboard Teaching Project to connect children on-line. In 1997 Buffy Sainte-Marie was selected as the Native American Philanthropist of the Year.

Discover more



Online:

• Aboriginal Faces of Saskatchewan: Buffy Sainte-Marie
  Article from Saskatchewn Sage, April 1998, re Buffy Sainte-Marie winning an National Aboriginal Achievement Award.
• Buffy Sainte-Marie
  The official Buffy Sainte-Marie website, including biography, art gallery, photos and discography.
• Canada's Walk of Fame: Buffy Sainte-Marie

Films/Video/Sound/Television:

• Buffy Sainte-Marie - Darling, Don't Cry
  Music video.YouTube.
• Buffy Sainte-Marie - Indian Cowboy in the Rodeo
  Video from YouTube.
• Buffy Sainte-Marie: Musician, Activist and Educator
  Television interview with George Stroumboulopoulos, 2012. 3:23 min. YouTube.
• Buffy Sainte-Marie - No No Keshagesh
  Music video. YouTube.
• Buffy Sainte-Marie on her biography It's My Way
  Video of interview on CBC News. 3:22 min.
• Buffy Sainte-Marie - Universal Soldier
  Buffy Sainte-Marie talks about writing Universal Soldier, then sings the famous song. YouTube.
• Buffy Sainte-Marie - Up Where We Belong
  Buffy Sainte-Marie singing Up Where We Belong. YouTube.
• Vanguard Records: Buffy Sainte-Marie
  Includes discorgraphy and some audio clips of songs.
• Coincidence & likely stories
  Sound recording by Capitol Records, 1992. An open-ended interview with Buffy Saint-Marie.

Books:

• Bataille, Gretchen M., editor. Native American Women: A Biographical Dictionary. New York & London: Garland Publishing, 1993.
• Gridley, Marion E., editor. Indians of Today. Chicago: ICFP, 1971.
• Hunter, Shaun. Visual & Performing Artists. New York & Niagara-on-the-Lake: Crabtree Pub.Co., c. 1999.
  For Young Readers.
• Stonechild, Blair. Buffy Sainte-Marie: It's My Way. Fifth House Publishers, 2012.
• Sainte-Marie, Buffy. The Buffy Saine-Marie Songbook. New York: Grosset and Dunlap, 1971.
• Sainte-Marie, Buffy. Buffy Sainte-Marie: It's My Way. Fifth House Publishers, 2012.