The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) and the Polaris Music Prize have announced they will be rescinding respective awards given to Buffy Sainte-Marie.
"Following a through review, consultations with the CARAS Indigenous Music Advisory Committee, and in light of recent information, including Ms. Sainte-Marie's confirmation that she is not Canadian, CARAS will revoke Buffy Sainte-Marie's JUNO Awards and Canadian Music Hall of Fame induction in accordance with its eligibility requirements," a statement from CARAS reads.
"This decision is not a reflection of Ms. Sainte-Marie's artistic contributions but ensures that CARAS celebrates and honours artists who meet the criteria," the statement continues. "While this decision aligns with longstanding criteria, we acknowledge the impact it may have."
Sainte-Marie was the recipient of the JUNO Humanitarian Award in 2017, and had won the honours for Indigenous Music Album of the Year in 2018 for her 16th studio album Medicine Songs.
The Polaris Music Prize announced the rescission of Sainte-Marie's 2015 Polaris Music Prize (won for her album Power in the Blood) and 2020 Polaris Heritage Prize (won for 1964's It's My Way) on similar grounds.
"Buffy Sainte-Marie released an updated statement confirming she is an American citizen and holds a US passport. ... Based on Sainte-Marie's statement, Buffy does not meet Polaris Music Prize's rules and regulations. Given Buffy's statement regarding her citizenship, Polaris Music Prize will be rescinding all awards including her 2015 Polaris Music Prize and 2020 Heritage Prize."
Rideau Hall also confirmed to the Canadian Press that Sainte-Marie has returned her Governor General's Performing Arts Award medallion, and is no longer a laureate. She was awarded that honour in 2010.
Sainte-Marie was stripped of her Order of Canada earlier this month, and released a statement in which she said, "I've never treated my citizenship as a secret."
"Most of my friends and relatives in Canada have known I'm American, and it's never been an issue," she wrote. "Although it's true that I've never been certain of where I was born, and did investigate the possibility that I may have been born in Canada, I still don't know."