Academy Award Winner Buffy Sainte-Marie Receives Honorary Doctorate

by Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Entertainment. Discussion »

BRANDON, MANITOBA - Buffy Sainte-Marie (Cree) received an honorary doctorate degree at Brandon University on Saturday, June 4. She was one of four being recognized during the 100th Convocation by the university.

Dr. Buffy Sainte-Marie - Cree (r), Receives Honorary Doctorate from Dr. Deborah Poff, the President & Vice-Chancellor of Brandon University

Sainte-Marie received a Doctor of Music (honoris causa) for her vast achievements as a singer, songwriter, activist and humanitarian.

During her acceptance speech and message to the graduating class, Dr. Sainte-Marie sang - acapella - a portion of her Oscar-winning song "Up Where We Belong.'

Buffy Sainte-Marie has appeared at countless grassroots concerts, American Indian Movement events and other activist benefits. Throughout her career, she has created 17 albums of her music, three of her own television specials, spent five years on Sesame Street, score movies, helped found "Music of Aboriginal Canada͂ Juno Awards Category, raised a son, earned a PhD in Fine Arts, taught Digital Music as adjunct professor at several colleges.

photo by Joanne F. Villeneuve, Brandon University

posted June 7, 2011 6:09 am et