Dalhousie University Revokes Buffy Sainte-Marie’s Honorary Degree

Dalhousie University in Halifax has officially revoked the honorary degree it awarded to musician and activist Buffy Sainte-Marie in 2018. The decision follows a request from Aaron Prosper, a Mi’kmaw medical student, who raised concerns about the implications of maintaining the honor in light of ongoing questions regarding Sainte-Marie’s claims to Indigenous identity.

This revocation comes over two years after a thorough investigation by CBC News, which revealed that Sainte-Marie was born in Massachusetts to Italian-American parents, contradicting her earlier representations of identifying as Algonquin, Mi’kmaw, and later Cree. Sainte-Marie, who is an American citizen, stated in an interview last year that she was adopted by a Cree family in Saskatchewan as a young adult.

In February, Prosper formally requested the university’s senate committee to revoke the honorary degree. He referred to the findings of the CBC investigation, the termination of Sainte-Marie’s membership in the Order of Canada, and past instances of other institutions revoking honorary degrees. Prosper expressed his mixed emotions about the situation, stating it elicited feelings of sadness and regret for not advocating for a more local Indigenous person to receive the honor.

Prosper’s involvement with the university’s honorary degrees committee occurred during his tenure as the student union president from 2018 to 2019. While he was not directly involved in the decision to award Sainte-Marie the degree, he participated in the ceremony where she delivered a lecture on diversity and inclusion. He shared that he cherishes two framed photographs from his university years: one with his sister and another with Sainte-Marie from Dalhousie’s bicentennial celebration.

The broader implications of Sainte-Marie’s recognitions have also raised concerns for Prosper. He questioned who might have been overlooked for awards like the Junos and the Polaris Prize due to the attention given to Sainte-Marie. “People that are no longer with us that should have been given that opportunity?” he remarked.

In a statement to CBC Indigenous, Dalhousie University confirmed that the revocation followed Prosper’s request and was processed in December 2023 according to the Senate Honorary Degrees Committee’s established criteria. The university has not disclosed specific details regarding the decision but noted that an honorary degree can be revoked under certain conditions, including if the recipient has engaged in conduct that significantly undermines the university’s values or reputation.

This revocation marks a significant moment for Dalhousie University, as it is the first time in its history that an honorary degree has been rescinded. Prosper emphasized that while he does not blame the university for the initial award, he finds it troubling that Indigenous individuals like himself are now expected to justify the revocation.

“Ultimately, it wasn’t the community that gave Buffy an honorary degree. It was Dalhousie’s idea,” Prosper stated, highlighting the disconnect between the institution and the Indigenous community it serves.

The situation continues to unfold, reflecting the complexities of identity, recognition, and the responsibilities of institutions in honoring individuals within diverse communities.