Truth and Reconciliation (Part I) - A Tribute to Buffy Ste. Marie

Truth and Reconciliation – is written and produced in response to the CBC programs questioning her identity Buffy Ste. Marie –.
Two, separate CBC programs, the Current and the Fifth Estate reported recently that legendary musician and activist Buffy Sainte-Marie, a female folk singer who we loved to listen to and wanted to love, well that her birth certificate, and other documents and details from family members contradict her claim that she is Indigenous.
Prior to these programs airing Buffy said “To those who question my truth, I say with love, I know who I am,” Buffy I think we know who you are too!
Family members in the US including her younger sister, told CBC that Buffy was not adopted and does not have an indigenous ancestry. CBC located her birth certificate, which says Buffy was born in 1941 in Stoneham, Mass., to Albert and Winifred Santamaria, an Italian family. The document lists the baby and parents as white and includes a signature of an attending physician.
CBC also reported that her marriage certificate, a life insurance policy and the United States Census corroborate the information on the birth certificate.
Hmmm, wonder if they ever saw her perform?
Her claim to Indigenous identity was forefront in her fame. She brought First Nations culture to “Sesame Street” and was first Indigenous person to win an Oscar For the best original song in 1982 her co-writing “Up Where We Belong,” the ballad from the movie “An Officer and a Gentleman.” And Buffy wrote Universal Soldier and got swindled out of the rights and this song you are listening to now, she wrote– Time for Me to Go.
Hey Buffy, maybe it is time for some Truth and some Reconciliation on this matter. We so admire your passion, your heart, your spirit, your will ... your voice.
and so it is dear Buffy, I took one of your famous songs, Universal Soldiers and rewrote it, just for you.

Buffy You Are A Universal Soldier

Now you are five foot-five your known around the world
Were you all of 82 at 17?
Sang so thousands around this world could plainly hear
You’ve been a singer for a thousand years

Are you a Catholic, a Hindu, an Atheist, a Jain
A Buddhist, a Baptist, or a Jew
And we know you will tell
What her family always knew
The truth for us my friend and the truth for you

You fought for all first nations
You sang you prayed you danced
You fought for native nations U.S.A
Said you were raised in Saskatchewan
Said - raised a Cree
All to reconcile First Nations issues in your way

You fought for Democracy
Fought the truth to be told
Said it was for the betterment of all
But you must decide
To stand up and speak or sit down and hide
Cause now some see things ... on your wall

But without your words and songs
About life on earth that’s wrong
Your piercing voice that trembled sometimes
You’re the one who gave your mind
As a minstrel of our time
And your music will live on and on and on

Buffy, you're the Soldier and you’re really not to blame
Your legend is alive forever more
It comes from you – from you and from me
For all the world to see
This is not the way to put an end
To Buffy , not Buffy Ste. Marie

This is not the way to put the end
To Buffy, not Buffy Ste. Mare
We Love you Buffy with all our heart and soil

Bed Tracks –
Time For Me To Go – piano instrumental from Youtube
Universal Soldier - Instrumental from Youtube
Images - Sourced on Internet
Disclaimer - there is no intention to monetize this video.

StonewallStudiosNiagara.com
T.J. Salter 10.28.2023