Forest of Reading

OLA Board Statement re: Buffy Sainte-Marie

The Forest of Reading is aware of CBC’s The Fifth Estate report on Buffy Sainte-Marie and the concerns it has raised around the contents of Meet Buffy Sainte-Marie, written by Elizabeth MacLeod and illustrated by Mike Deas. After consulting with Indigenous stakeholders in education, publishing, and librarianship, the Forest of Reading has retained this title for the 2024 Yellow Cedar Award. We recognize and honour the decision of Piapot First Nation, Band #75 to stand with Buffy Sainte-Marie, who was adopted following Cree tradition. It is not the position of Forest of Reading to encroach upon the independent decision-making and norms of Indigenous communities. Forest of Reading will continue to monitor the ongoing conversation around Sainte-Marie and respond as necessary, under the lead of the Piapot Nation and Indigenous stakeholders.

Approved unanimously by OLA Board on November 13, 2023