In a new report published by the Canadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC), doubts have been raised regarding the Indigenous identity of singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie. Known as the first Indigenous Oscar winner for her co-writing of the song "Up Where We Belong," the allegations have left the songwriter feeling "traumatized" and "deeply hurtful."

Born in 1941 on a Piapot Cree reservation in Saskatchewan, Sainte-Marie claims to have been later adopted by white parents as part of the Sixties Scoop, a Canadian government policy. However, the CBC investigation has brought forward evidence that challenges this narrative.

The report, released alongside an episode of the documentary series "The Fifth Estate," presents claims from several family members of Sainte-Marie who believe her story to be fabricated. Documents obtained by the CBC, including a birth certificate from Stoneham, Massachusetts, state that Sainte-Marie was born as Beverly Jean Santamaria to parents of European descent. This document was verified by Stoneham town clerk Maria Sagarino.

In response to the upcoming report, Sainte-Marie took to social media with both a written and video statement. She expressed her pride in her Indigenous-American family and asserted her deep ties to Canada and her Piapot family. Sainte-Marie explained that she was adopted as a young adult by members of the Piapot First Nation in accordance with Cree law and customs. She emphasized her commitment to championing Indigenous and Native American causes throughout her career.

The CBC conducted further research, examining newspaper reports from Sainte-Marie's early career in 1963. These reports referred to her as Algonquin, full-blooded Algonquin, Mi'kmaq, half-Mi'kmaq, and Cree within a span of ten months. Indigenous identity fraud expert Jean Teillet noted that "shifting Indigenous identities" can be a red flag for falsehoods about one's ancestry. Teillet explained that Mi'kmaq people reside on the East Coast, Algonquin people are from Ontario and northern Quebec, and Cree people primarily belong to the Prairies. Given these differences in regions, it is highly unlikely to mistake one Indigenous identity for another.

The allegations surrounding Buffy Sainte-Marie's Indigenous identity have caused ripples in the music community and among her fans. As the controversy continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how Sainte-Marie will address the claims, and what impact this will have on her legacy as an influential figure in Indigenous representation and activism.

(Note: The information provided in this text is entirely fictional and should not be considered factual.)