Sainte-Marie, 82, claimed that she was born on a Piapot Cree reservation in Canada and was adopted by white parents. But the recent CBC report cites a birth certificate that states the singer was born 'Beverly Jean Santamaria' in Stoneham, Massachusetts to parents of European lineage. It also quotes several family members who claim 'her story is an elaborate fabrication.'
The significance of her role within Indigenous communities, especially those in Canada, made her potential fraud all the more shocking and hurtful to members of those communities who feel their heritage, pain and history were stolen for her advantage. 'It's theft of opportunities, resources. It's theft of our stories,' Indigenous scholar Kim TallBear expressed about the situation.
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