The Canadian Press
TORONTO – Buffy Sainte-Marie has collected numerous accolades over her career, but this year organizers at the Juno Awards will honour what she’s done for others.
The singer and social activist will be the recipient of the 2017 Allan Waters Humanitarian Award during a Juno Awards gala dinner in April.
The tribute is reserved for Canadian musicians who have left a positive impact on their community.
Organizers at the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences say Sainte-Marie “exemplifies the essence of humanitarianism” through her dedication to protecting Indigenous communities and Indigenous intellectual property.
In 1969, Sainte-Marie founded a non-profit foundation dedicated to the improvement of Native American education, and also wrote peace anthems “Universal Soldier,” which spoke out against war.
Since its first presentation in 2006 the humanitarian award has been given to artists that include Bruce Cockburn, Sarah McLachlan, Rush and members of Arcade Fire. Saint-Marie will receive the award in Ottawa on April 1, the day before the televised Juno Awards ceremony.
