Indigenous Canadian-American musician and social activist Buffy Sainte-Marie has announced she is retiring from live performances amid health issues.
The 82-year-old artist cited “travel-induced health concerns and performance-inhibiting physical challenges” as reasons for her retirement in a press release Thursday evening.
“I have made the difficult decision to pull out of all scheduled performances in the foreseeable future. Arthritic hands and a recent shoulder injury have made it no longer possible to perform to my standards. Sincere regrets to all my fans and family, my band and the support teams that make it all possible,” she wrote in a statement.
The Academy Award winning Cree artist broke onto the music scene in 1964 with her debut song “It’s My Way!,” disrupting the industry with her revolutionary artistry, musicianship and activism.
Over the course of six decades she has produced 21 albums including one of the world’s first electronic vocal albums in 1969. She became the only Indigenous person to win an Oscar in 1982, has written songs performed by the likes of Janis Joplin and Elvis Presley, and remains a proud representative of both her American and Canadian roots.
She has penned multiple books, including Tâpwê and the Magic Hat / Tâpwê Êkwa Mamâhtâwastotin, a chapter book based on Indigenous oral histories and traditions, which she co-illustrated alongside Michelle Alynn Clement.
She is also an accomplished painter and digital artist. Many of her works are on permanent display at the Institute of American Indian Arts Museum, First Nations University, and the Tucson Art Museum.
Sainte-Marie has been awarded 15 honorary doctorate degrees for her contributions to the arts, and music as well as countless awards in recognition of her creative and humanitarian endeavours, and was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1995.
She was previously scheduled to play at the Burnaby Blues + Roots Festival in British Columbia on Aug. 12. The Fleet Foxes were announced as the replacement headliner Thursday evening.
