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Singer-songwriter is an activist at heart

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After a 60-year career, Buffy Sainte-Marie recently announced she is hanging up her performing clothes for health-related reasons.

Most articles feature Sainte-Marie, now 82, as a musician. However, apart from her creativity, her motive as an activist is usually overlooked. In my research and book, I have examined her commitments and the context she emerged from.

Greenwich Village, 1963

Sainte-Marie was born on Piapot First Nation in Saskatchewan but was raised in Massachusetts and Maine after she was adopted. When Sainte-Marie found her way to Greenwich Village in New York City in 1963, she had already developed an interest in her Cree heritage, wondering why American Indians seemed relegated to museums.

As a university student and budding singer, she created striking ballads including “Now that the Buffalo’s Gone,” and “My Country ‘Tis of Thy People You’re Dying.” Although the 1960s was an era of social awakening, it was unusual for a woman, let alone an Indigenous one, to be performing songs of such a candid nature examining these issues.

Sainte-Marie’s folk songs were melodic but hard-hitting, and her interest was not confined to Indigenous people.

Anti-war, involvement with American Indian Movement

Her popular anti-war song, “Universal Soldier” was penned after encountering wounded men in an airport who were returning from Vietnam.

She realized a lot of attention was being paid to the cause of Black people and legacies of systemic oppression affecting their communities, but little to the long-standing grievances of Indigenous Peoples.

By the late-1960s, the American Indian Movement (AIM) was gaining national attention. Sainte-Marie worked closely with AIM leaders including Dennis Banks and John Trudell, using her public profile to attract funds.

The artist was involved in the 1978 Longest Walk and occupation of Alcatraz in 1969.

She witnessed the hardships and heartbreak of activism when her friend Anna Mae Aquash was murdered in the chaos that followed the Wounded Knee Occupation of 1973.

Multi-faceted commitments

Sainte-Marie’s activism was multi-faceted, including protest songs, speeches, demonstrations, fund-raising and supporting reservation-based initiatives.

With her lucrative income from recording, she created a scholarship to enable promising young leaders to attend university. Some of those people emerged to become tribal leaders and college presidents.

Another project, the Cradleboard Teaching Project, which continues to today, reflects the artist’s enduring interest in education.

Cradleboard produces original Indigenous-based curriculum in areas as diverse as science and sports. It has connected classrooms from places like Hawaii, Saskatchewan and Arizona via the internet.

Resisting violence, repression

The murder of Sainte-Marie’s friend Aquash was a blow. In this same period, she found her music was disappearing from the radio waves.

She believed she was just a victim of changing tastes, until she discovered the Lyndon Johnson White House had demanded radio stations drop her music, a fate suffered by other activist singers such as her friend Taj Mahal.

In fact, the singer and songwriter’s popularity was as strong as ever, and her fans were wanting more.

She needed a break from music. But it was not long before her creativity found new outlets.

‘Up Where We Belong’

The Mac computer had recently come out, and Sainte-Marie quickly became fascinated with its palette of millions of colours.

She began creating digital art: painting with light, minus the labours of mixing paints and cleaning up. She combined digital and photographic techniques to produce very large canvases. Many works focused on Indigenous themes while others evoked nature.

Another opportunity knocked when Sesame Street invited her to contribute Indigenous content. Her son Cody was born soon after, and Sainte-Marie took the opportunity to promote the healthy practice of breastfeeding, in what has been considered the first depiction of breastfeeding on television.

Additionally, she found a path to winning an Academy Award. Her then-husband, composer and arranger Jack Nitzsche, was searching for a theme song for the movie An Officer and a Gentleman. Sainte-Marie stepped in with chords that resulted in “Up Where We Belong,” which won Best Original Song in 1983.

Pioneer of contemporary Indigenous music

Sainte-Marie finally found her way back to her first passion of songwriting and singing. Her more innovative and rock-sounding tunes included “Starwalker,” often referred to as a First Nations anthem.

Other songs such as “Priests of the Golden Bull” are virulently critical of today’s mainstream society with its greed and inequality. For her role in pioneering contemporary Indigenous music, Sainte-Marie was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

She has continued to make appearances up until now, inspiring multiple generations. She had vowed to make music and perform for as long as she was able and has generated a fruitful career that is hard to rival.

I doubt that this is the last we will hear of this acclaimed artist and activist. The internet now provides many new avenues with which to reach one’s audience. Sainte-Marie knows how to leverage this technology, and I am certain we will continue to feel her presence.

Author: A. Blair Stonechild – Professor of Indigenous Studies, First Nations University of Canada The Conversation

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Canada Super 60 set to dazzle with star-studded concert line-up at Vancouver’s BC Place

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The Canada Super 60 isn’t just changing the game; it’s creating North America’s newest entertainment spectacle. From October 8 to 13, Vancouver’s iconic BC Place will transform into a full-fledged cultural carnival, blending high-octane cricket with back-to-back music concerts.

Get ready for six nights of non-stop entertainment, headlined by some of the biggest names in Punjabi, Desi, and global fusion music. From the infectious beats of Harrdy Sandhu and Jassie Gill to the international flair of Mickey Singh, each night promises a festival atmosphere both on and off the pitch.

Concert Line-Up Highlights

  • Oct 8 – Harrdy Sandhu (9pm)
  • Oct 9 – Jassie Gill (9pm)
  • Oct 10 – Mickey Singh (9pm)
  • Oct 11 – Parmish Verma (9pm)
  • Oct 12 – Raf-Saperra (9pm)
  • Oct 13 – GirlsLikeYou x Indo Warehouse (6:15pm)

The entertainment bonanza runs alongside thrilling cricket matches featuring international stars and fan favourites. With Yuvraj Singh backing the league and legends like Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina on the field, Canada Super 60 is shaping up to be the ultimate blend of glamour, game, and groove.

“This is not just cricket; this is a lifestyle experience,” said a spokesperson for Canada Super 60. “Our entertainment line-up reflects the league’s ambition to unite cultures through music, sport, and community.”

Fans can expect full-scale stadium productions, food and cultural showcases, and plenty of Instagram-worthy moments, turning BC Place into Canada’s most happening venue this October.

About Canada Super 60

Canada Super 60 is the newest format in global cricket, a 60-ball showdown that delivers fast-paced action and festival-style entertainment. Backed by international icons and powered by music, sport, and cultural unity, it’s redefining how fans experience cricket in North America.

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UAE students risk repeating a year if absences exceed 15 days, new rules state

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Public school students in the UAE could be required to repeat an academic year if their unexcused absences exceed 15 days, under new rules announced by the Ministry of Education.

The updated guidelines exclude absences related to illness, medical travel, official event participation, emergencies, or family bereavements. Students will now be allowed up to five unexcused absences per term, capped at 15 across the year. Any excess will trigger a review, with the student’s file referred to the relevant authorities and child protection services.

The ministry also clarified that absences on Fridays, or on days immediately before or after official holidays, will count as two days. A warning system has been introduced to notify parents on the first day of absence.

Special exemptions will apply to students of determination and those with chronic illnesses. Parents may also appeal within five working days of being notified, ensuring fairness in implementation.

The initiative is aimed at tackling absenteeism, which the ministry said has a direct impact on academic performance. Citing studies, it noted that missing 10 per cent of school days equates to a loss of half an academic year, while absences beyond 20 per cent amount to a full year’s loss in achievement.

Schools have been instructed to create individual support plans for students at risk of frequent absences, including counselling sessions, parent engagement, and incentive programmes.

The ministry added that it will be up to educational boards to decide whether these rules will also extend to private schools.

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Tickets now live for Dubai’s first homegrown musical spectacle

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A cultural revolution is about to begin. Tickets are now available for Once Upon A Time in Dubai, the most ambitious, emotional, and spectacular musical ever produced in the region. Opening this December at The Agenda in Dubai Media City, the show is already being called a once-in-a-generation phenomenon — and for good reason.

More than just a stage production, Once Upon A Time in Dubai is the first original large-scale musical entirely created in the UAE, blending Broadway-worthy storytelling with the energy and dreams of one of the world’s most iconic cities. Behind this bold vision is Stéphane Boukris, entrepreneur and cultural trailblazer, who has brought together an international creative dream team — including Universal Music Group MENA as co-producer — to craft a deeply emotional journey of love, ambition, and transformation, set in today’s Dubai.

“This show is a tribute to everything Dubai represents: ambition, diversity, and the power to build your own destiny,” says Boukris. “We are creating something people will never forget.”

A World-Class Team Behind the Curtain

The production brings together talents who have previously worked on global shows such as Céline Dion, Disney shows, and Arabs Got Talent (MBC). From lighting to choreography and technical design, every detail is crafted by artists and technicians at the highest international standards.

A Story That Speaks to a Generation

At the heart of the show is Will, a young English dancer who arrives in Dubai to search for Sophia, the woman he loves. Along the way, he meets artists, entrepreneurs, and dreamers from all walks of life, culminating in a celebration of courage, community, and reinvention.

The cast features rising stars Amanda Maalouf (X Factor) and Joe Woolford (The Voice UK) — with many of the lead vocalists and performers previously featured on international talent platforms, bringing an exceptional level of stage presence and vocal power. The musical includes over 20 original songs composed by Nazim Khaled, including already-viral hits like “Habibi”, “Stranger in the World”, and “Think Big”.

A City-Wide Movement

With over 150,000 spectators expected across 55 performances, the show is much more than an event — it’s becoming a movement. Once Upon A Time in Dubai is already making waves across the city with:

Strategic brand partnerships: McDonald’s, Carrefour MAF, Careem, Accor, Mall of the

Emirates, Tilal Al Ghaf, GEMS Education, and more

Immersive activations: Soundtracks in Hala taxis, QR codes in malls, music in retail

stores, and dedicated social media campaigns

Youth engagement: Auditions and showcases for students across GEMS schools,

opening the stage to the next generation of performers

The show will be performed in English, and supported by a multicultural creative team led by stage director Johan Nus.

Exclusive Ticket Sale

Tickets are available exclusively via Fever, the global ticketing platform. Pre-sale access has already launched with selected partners such as GEMS, Muse by Chalhoub, and Accor’s ALL loyalty members — with thousands of tickets snapped up in just days.

🎤 Behind the scenes videos, interviews with the cast, and a full media kit are available upon request. 📸 Press passes for opening week are now being issued — be among the first to witness the birth of a new cultural landmark.

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