One of Canada's most diverse and talented artists is the headliner at this year's Westfest.
Buffy Sainte-Marie plays Westfest 2008 on June 14—the day dedicated to the celebration of Canadian aboriginal women in music—along with Kinnie Starr, Lucie Idlout, Tamara Podenski, Nemisak Singers, Holly McNarland, and others.
Although Buffy grew up in Massachusetts and Maine, she was born in Saskatchewan. Before becoming a singer and song writer, Buffy was a teacher; and in many ways she has continued that career by educating people about the realities of life for native people and breaking stereotypes through her songs, TV appearances (she was a regular on Sesame Street for five years), philanthropy, lectures, and digital artworks.
Best known for writing such songs as Universal Soldier (a Vietnam War protest anthem), Up Where We Belong (from the movie An Officer and a Gentleman), and Until It's Time for You to Go, Buffy also holds degrees in Fine Arts (Ph.D.), Oriental Philosophy, and teaching.
Her philanthropy includes establishing the Nihewan Foundation for American Indian Education, which funds native studies, and facilitates communication between Native American and mainstream children in Canada and the U.S. through the Cradleboard Teaching Project.
With her distinctive vibrato-laced voice and strong song writing skills, Buffy has been inducted into the Juno Songwriting Hall of Fame, received an Oscar for Up Where We Belong and a Juno for Best Music of Aboriginal Canada.
She was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Saskatchewan Recording Industry Association and a Lifetime Musical Achievement Award from the First Americans in the Arts.
Buffy's new album, "BSM—Buffy Changing Woman Sweet America," will be released at the end of June.
After Westfest, Buffy can be seen on June 27 at Théâtre Maisonneuve when she plays the Montreal Jazz Festival.
In its fifth year in Westboro Village, Westfest is an all-Canadian festival of "Music, Art, and Life." The annual festival, running from June 11-15, presents music, spoken word, dance, performance art, theatre, and visual and performance art, and all activities are free.
The lineup includes two theatre productions on June 11, Moncton Rock and Julie Doiron on June 12, Canadian performers Grand Analog, The Joel Plaskett Emergency, Land of Talk, and Matthew Barber and the Union Dues on June 13.
The celebration of Canadian aboriginal women in music will be on June 14, and there will be an all-Ottawa musicians' day on June 15 that includes Sue Foley, The Ethics, Lynn Miles, Kenny Voita, and Kyrie Kristmanson.
Throughout the festival there will be presentations from a variety of Canadian authors and celebrated poets. Check www.westfest.ca for a detailed schedule of events.
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