Winnipeg Free Press

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FINAL WEEKEND - OPEN HOLIDAY MONDAY 11AM - 5PM WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM ● C3 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2025 Arts groups re-evaluating Buffy Sainte-Marie’s awards T ORONTO — The head of the Juno Awards says he’s not rushing to decide the fate of Buffy Sainte-Marie’s many honours with the music organization after it was confirmed last week that she was stripped of her Order of Canada. Allan Reid, the CEO of the Canadian Academy of Re- cording Arts and Sciences, said internal discussions are ongoing with the Indigenous Music Advisory Committee at the Junos, but that coming to a decision has proven to be complicated. “We said from the very beginning that as much as CAR- AS will make a decision, it needs to be fully informed by the Indigenous music community,” Reid told The Canadian Press in an interview Tuesday. “We have to consider what other effects it may have.” The Junos are among several Canadian arts organizations that confirmed they are taking another look at Sainte-Ma- rie’s high-profile accolades. Junos organizers first said they would look into how to handle Sainte-Marie’s five Juno wins in 2023 after a CBC report questioned the singer-songwriter’s Indigenous her- itage, saying it found a birth certificate that indicated she was born in 1941 in Massachusetts. Family members in the United States told CBC that Sainte-Marie was not adopted and doesn’t have Indigenous ancestry. Sainte-Marie has said the CBC report contained mistakes and omissions, and that she has never lied about her identi- ty. Attempts to reach Sainte-Marie through Paquin Enter- tainment, the management company listed on her website, were not answered. Last week, the government gave notice that Sainte-Ma- rie’s Order of Canada appointment was terminated by an ordinance signed by Gov. Gen. Mary Simon on Jan. 3. A representative for the office of the Governor General confirmed it was the ninth termination in the history of the honour, but said the office does not comment on the specif- ics of termination cases. The conversation around Sainte-Marie’s history has divided many people, none more so than Indigenous leaders and musicians who once cited her as a major influence. She was often considered a leading advocate for Indigenous rights issues, though some have questioned her motivations in light of the CBC report. “We want to make sure that we’re aligned with our music community as we make this determination. Some of that is people’s perspective has changed over time,” Reid said, adding he isn’t tying the decision to a deadline. Several other notable arts organizations say they’re considering the status of past awards given to Sainte-Marie, including the 2010 Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for lifetime artistic achievement. Jess Milton, executive director of the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards, said the organization is consult- ing with its board of directors and “fully evaluating all perspectives” before making any decisions. Similar conversations are being had behind the scenes at the Polaris Music Prize, which named Sainte-Marie’s 2015 album Power in the Blood the winner of its $50,000 award that year. The Junos leadership faces perhaps the most complicated of the scenarios. Four of Sainte-Marie’s five Junos were won in Indigenous categories. She also received the humanitarian award and was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. The Junos website also credits her as being “instru- mental” in the creation of the first Indigenous category, originally called the “best music of Aboriginal Canada recording.” Reid downplayed her involvement in the category’s creation, adding that it was done with the participation of a music advisory committee and trailblazing musicians Elaine Bomberry and Shingoose. The Junos have only revoked a single artist’s award in its 54-year history in 1990 after pop duo Milli Vanilli were discovered to have not sung on any of the songs from their breakthrough album. The Junos stripped them of their international album of the year prize. — The Canadian Press DAVID FRIEND ALEX LUPUL / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES A CBC investigation found Buffy Sainte-Marie was born to a white couple in Stoneham, Mass. Cornerstone production The Sleeping Beauty chosen by Lewis, staged by Stowell Elegant passing of the baton for RWB’s 2025-26 season I T’S a new season at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Curated by outgoing artistic director André Lewis, the upcoming 2025/26 season announced this week will be the first under RWB’s new artistic director Christopher Stowell. “Joining such a prestigious institution is a true privilege. I’m thrilled to build on its incredible legacy by bringing my own artistic perspective and values to RWB in the years to come,” Stowell said in a media release. “This season, crafted under André’s visionary leadership, sets a fantastic stage. Looking ahead, I am eager to deepen my connection with RWB’s artists and audiences through an exciting endeavour: staging my own production of The Sleeping Beauty next season.” Stowell’s version of the classic ballet, choreographed after Marius Petipa to Tchaikovsky’s iconic score, will take the Centennial Concert Hall stage March 12 to 15, 2026. The Sleeping Beauty — which tells the story of Princess Aurora, who is cursed by the malevolent Carabosse (whom Disney fans might know as Maleficent) but saved by true love’s kiss — was last presented by the RWB digitally during the 2021/22 season, owing to pandemic restrictions. JEN ZORATTI The 2025/26 season opens Oct. 9 to 12 with Hansel & Gretel from New Zealand choreographer Loughlan Prior. Set to an original score by Claire Cowan, this story ballet based on the classic Brothers Grimm fairytale goes from black and white to a riot of colour, thanks to sets and cos- tumes by Kate Hawley. Festive favourite Nutcracker will take up its annual Christmas residency at the concert hall Dec. 19 to 23, 26 and 27. Before that, it will spend a month on the road, taking holiday magic to Regina, Saskatoon, Ottawa and Vancouver. Mainstage season concludes with a mixed-repertoire pro- gram April 30 to May 3, 2026, featuring James Kudelka’s The Four Seasons, choreographed to the Vivaldi master- work of the same name, along with the Winnipeg première of Cameron Fraser-Monroe’s Segatem — which made its world première in New York City in the fall — and a new work from American choreographer Dwight Rhoden, founder of Complexions Contemporary Ballet in New York City. The current season continues with Jekyll & Hyde March 6 to 9 at the Centennial Concert Hall. jen.zoratti@winnipegfreepress.com DAVID COOPER PHOTO Jaimi Deleau will perform in The Four Seasons in the mixed-repertoire program next spring. ARTS ● LIFE I ENTERTAINMENT ;