Celebrate Buffy Sainte-Marie and Amplify Indigenous Peoples With Your Kids

An Indigenous woman in a red shirt plays the guitar and sings to a group of children sitting on crates — Buffy Sainte-Marie plays the guitar and sings to children on "Sesame Street." | Courtesy of Sesame Workshop

November 16, 2022

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I first learned of Buffy Saint-Marie's work in early childhood education when I read the foreword of "Children of Native America Today" by Yvonne Wakim Dennis and Arlene Hirschfelder, where Sainte-Marie wrote: "During the five years that I spent on 'Sesame Street,' I tried to convey in the Native American episodes one message above all: Indians Exist. We are alive and real. We have fun, friends, families and a whole lot to contribute to the rest of the world through our reality."

At the time, I was searching for Indigenous-created books to provide my young, white child with accurate representations of Native children and grown-ups living, being and partaking in joyful moments in the present day. I knew of Sainte-Marie's legendary career as a musician but was much less familiar with her trailblazing role as an advocate for children and lifelong educator.

Sainte-Marie is iconic. She embodies a combination of fierce activism in her quest to fight for Indigenous rights and dignity and a strong belief that everything and everyone can change and ripen. The lyrics in her songs teach us about the devastating history of colonization while encouraging us to stay hopeful. Her educator roots shine bright in everything she does.

Recently, I spoke to Sainte-Marie about her contributions to education and how to empower kids to stay creative and amplify the joyful stories and contributions of past and present Indigenous peoples like her.

Learn About Buffy Sainte-Marie

An Indigenous woman sits on a stoop with a little boy in her lap. She smiles with her arms and hands open. They are both looking at a large yellow bird that is looking at them. — Buffy Sainte-Marie and her son play with Big Bird on "Sesame Street." | Courtesy of Sesame Workshop

Sainte-Marie is an incredible role model for children (and grown-ups). In 1975, she was approached by "Sesame Street" to come on the show as a "one and done" guest. She told them she was busy and turned them down, but before hanging up, she asked if they had ever done Native programming.

"Usually 'Indians' had been misportrayed or sensationalized in books and movies to support storylines about other people, so we were always either villains or victims," Sainte-Marie said. "My idea of offering Native American programming was to show little kids and their caregivers our commonality with other people, as well as our uniqueness."

The production team, who Sainte-Marie said was genuinely child-centered, loved the idea, so she began a five-year stint with "Sesame Street," during which she wrote several scripts and songs, including the revolutionary episode where she became the first person on public television to breastfeed.

The music world has also acknowledged her contributions with many awards, including an Academy Award in 1982 for her collaboration on the song "Up Where We Belong." Her legendary protest songs, such as "My Country 'tis of Thy People You're Dying," serve as guides into the realities of Indigenous peoples.

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Buffy Sainte-Marie: Carry It On

All About Buffy Sainte-Marie Worksheet
Teach children about Sainte-Marie with the All About Buffy Sainte-Marie worksheet.

Wonder. Before reading, invite children to share what they notice and wonder about Sainte-Marie's pictures. For example, ask them to think about what she is doing in each of them, like laughing or singing. Encourage them to think about some of the things they like to do and talk about them.
- Define. Talk about the bolded words and learn what they mean. Example definitions include:
- Activist: Someone who uses their words and actions to change things
- Cree: First Nations tribe of people who live in what is now referred to as Canada
- Indigenous: The first people to live in a place
- Mouth bow: An instrument thought to be the oldest stringed instrument in the world
- Pet adoption: Taking care of a pet that lived with someone else before
Watch. When you read about the mouth bow, pause to show children the video of Sainte-Marie playing the mouth bow on "Sesame Street."

Watch Buffy Sainte-Marie play "Cripple Creek" on "Sesame Street" with a mouth bow.

Reflect. After reading the All About Buffy Sainte-Marie worksheet with children, ask them:
- How will you share your story with the world?
- Do you like to play music, create art, or dance? How do you feel when you do these things?
Read. Check out "Hey Little Rockabye: A Lullaby for Pet Adoption" by Sainte-Marie and Ben Hodson and invite children to draw a picture and/or create a song for a special pet or animal they love.

Empower Kids to Stay Creative Through Art, Song and Dance

Sainte-Marie has always been fascinated with music, despite hearing from teachers that she couldn't be a musician. She discovered a piano at age 3 and made music with pots and pans, rubber bands, grass, and the mouth bow. "The most important part is recognizing the natural talent that most children already have built-in," she said. "Don't squash it!"

She believes music is much more than reading notes and encourages everyone to approach learning with curiosity and play.

When asked about her advice for grown-ups wanting to raise kids who listen to their voices and dare to dream, she emphasized the need to prioritize play in their lives.

An Indigenous woman in a checkered blouse plays with the child on her lap. Both are sitting on a stoop.

1/3 Buffy Sainte-Marie plays with her son on "Sesame Street." | Courtesy of Sesame Workshop

A woman touches her nose with her hand as three colorful puppets with bulbous noses and ears shaped like small trumpets look at her. The puppets' heads are visible, but a large box covers their bodies.

2/3 Buffy Sainte-Marie tries to honk her nose with the Honkers on "Sesame Street." | Courtesy of Sesame Workshop

An Indigenous woman wearing a gold and black blouse stands in front of a small child in a plaid shirt standing on a stoop. They smile at each other.

3/3 Buffy Sainte-Marie dances and plays with her son on "Sesame Street." | Courtesy of Sesame Workshop

"I think it's important, as parents help their children to become self-sufficient members of society, that they try real hard to help their kids to develop their sense of joy, to create fun, and to play throughout our entire lives," Sainte-Marie said.

Activities to Appreciate Music and Art

Listen. "Still This Love Goes On" is a song in which Sainte-Marie "instills a love for a place — whether it's our own or somebody else's." Listen to it together and encourage children to move their bodies to the rhythm or find objects to tap, bang or stroke.
Read. Next, read the book version of the song, "Still This Loves Goes On," by Sainte-Marie and Julie Flett, pointing to the pictures and encouraging children to verbalize what they see in each picture. Ask them:
- What's the same or different about where we live?
- What season do you see when you look out the window?
- What's something you love about where we live?
Connect to nature. Celebrate seasons and nature by taking a walk outside and bringing paper, watercolors and pencils. Then, sit down and create artwork together. Tap into your five senses by talking about the colors, sounds and smells around you.
Sing. Enjoy "Listen to the Wind Blow" featuring Sainte-Marie and invite children to move and make sounds like the wind.

Watch Buffy Sainte-Marie play "Listen to the Wind Blow" on "Sesame Street."

Sesame Street: Listen to the Wind Blow

Amplify the Joyful Stories and Contributions of Indigenous Peoples

Sainte-Marie believes Native and non-Native children should have opportunities to learn about the many joyful realities and contributions of Indigenous peoples in the past and present and suggests caregivers "Just offer the information, with kindness." Here are some resources to get started:

Watch. "Paddling on Both Sides" by Blake Angeconeb & Sainte-Marie is part of the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund's "Reconciliation Begins with You" (RBWY) video series. These shorts talk about Indigenous history and celebrate the resilience and strength of Indigenous peoples. Play the video for children under age 8 starting at around 0:26 to learn about Indigenous inventions (the beginning touches on violence against Indigenous women and should only be viewed with younger children with care and after providing context). After watching, invite children to draw a picture of something they learned from the video.
Read. Introduce young children to the many contributions of Indigenous people by checking out the books below at your local library:
- "Tallchief: America's Prima Ballerina" (Ages 5-8) by Maria Tallchief and Rosemary Wells
  Teach children the fascinating story of Maria Tallchief about how she became a prima ballerina.
- "Go Show the World: A Celebration of Indigenous Heroes" (Ages 5-9) by Wab Kinew and illustrated by Joe Morse
  Children of all ages love this book, in which the text transforms into a lyrical rap that introduces children to historic and modern-day Indigenous heroes. Kinew, the author, is a member of the Midewin.
- "Classified: The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer" (Ages 7-11) by Traci Sorell and illustrated by Natasha Donovan
  Read about Ross' journey from being the only girl in a high school math class to becoming a mentor for Native Americans and young women pursuing engineering.
- "Tâpwê and the Magic Hat" (Ages 6-9) by Buffy Sainte-Marie
  "Tâpwê and the Magic Hat" draws on a rich Indigenous storytelling tradition. After receiving a mysterious gift from Kokhom (grandma), Tâpwê finds himself on an unforgettable adventure.