Buffy Sainte-Marie
Buffy Sainte-Marie
#### Full Name and Common Aliases
Jolane "Buffy" Sainte-Marie
Birth and Death Dates
Born: November 20, 1941 (still active)
Died: Not applicable (alive as of writing)
Nationality and Profession(s)
Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, visual artist, educator, and activist.
Early Life and Background
Buffy Sainte-Marie was born on the Piapot Reserve in South Dakota to a French-Canadian mother and an English-Canadian father. Her family later moved to Saskatchewan, where she spent most of her childhood. This early exposure to the complexities of Native American life would later influence her music and advocacy work.
Growing up, Buffy was fascinated with music and began performing at local events as a child. She attended the University of Minnesota but left after one year to pursue music full-time. In 1964, she released her debut album, "Many A Mile," which caught the attention of Bob Dylan, among others.
Major Accomplishments
Throughout her career, Buffy Sainte-Marie has been recognized for her contributions to music and social justice. Some notable achievements include:
Winning three Grammy Awards (Best Folk Album for "Running for the Drum" in 2008)
Being awarded an Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Up Where We Belong," from the film "An Officer and a Gentleman"
Receiving a National Arts Center Award of Excellence
Being honored with a place on the Saskatchewan Order of Merit
Notable Works or Actions
Buffy Sainte-Marie's music has addressed issues like Native American rights, women's empowerment, and environmental protection. Her songs often feature powerful lyrics that encourage listeners to think critically about their place in the world.
Some notable works include:
"Now That the Buffalo's Gone" (a protest song against the destruction of Native American land)
"Up Where We Belong" (her Oscar-winning love ballad from "An Officer and a Gentleman")
* "Universal Soldier" (a classic anti-war song later covered by Donovan)
Impact and Legacy
Buffy Sainte-Marie's impact on music and social justice is multifaceted. Her commitment to using her platform for positive change has inspired generations of artists, activists, and everyday people.
Her legacy extends beyond the world of music. As an educator and visual artist, Buffy has worked tirelessly to promote Indigenous culture and awareness. In 2013, she donated a large collection of her art to the National Museum of the American Indian in New York City.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Buffy Sainte-Marie is widely quoted and remembered for her powerful lyrics, advocacy work, and commitment to social justice. Her music has been covered by artists from all genres, ensuring that her message continues to resonate with new audiences.
In addition to her own achievements, Buffy's influence can be seen in the work of other notable figures like Bob Dylan and Donovan. As a trailblazer for Native American representation in music, she paved the way for future generations of Indigenous artists.
Quotes by Buffy Sainte-Marie
I've had a different kind of career on the periphery of show business. I've never been on any kind of corporate timetable whereby every six months I have to pop out a record like a pulping mill. I've called my own shots. When I get tired, I take time off.
I see myself as having three families: my birth family, the family that raised me, and my Cree family, who I was reunited with in my late teens, so I consider myself to be lucky.
When I was three, I didn't play with other kids very much; I was kind of isolated. I got used to be being bullied and having to think my way out of situations in the same way that other kids would fight their way out. Then I discovered a piano, and it became my playmate.
It never occurred to me that I was important enough to have some politician go out of his way to silence me. I only found out about it in the '80s by accident - a broadcaster announced they received letters of commendation from the White House for having suppressed my music. My career was so highly impacted in the U.S. it will never recover.
I was an infant when I was living in Canada, but when I was adopted, I was a baby, so I grew up in Maine and Massachusetts, and I returned to Saskatchewan as - in my late teens.
I put all my time into Indian rights, and I think this is something I know something about, and I think that my time is best spent insofar as my political views are concerned.
We allow each other so little enjoyment or even tolerance for our individualities, our uniquenesses, and yet to me, that's what it's all about.
I was very unhappy when I used to record and things wouldn't turn out the way I would want to, because I was being such a nice girl. I wouldn't complain when things were going wrong.
I've always had that attitude about my career: it's something that I do, but it's not my whole life. I have a real life, a personal life: I've got a lot of chickens, I've got a horse, I've got a kitty-cat, I've got a lot of goats, I've got animals all over the place.