Singer and activist Buffy Sainte-Marie has again addressed allegations that she falsely claimed to be Indigenous, saying in a Thursday statement that I have never lied about my identity.

An October investigation by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. had uncovered extensive evidence suggesting that Sainte-Marie, who has long claimed she was born in Canadas Piapot First Nation, fabricated details about her heritage throughout her six-decade career.

But the singer defended herself in a message shared with the media this week, saying that I have always struggled to answer questions about who I am.

In the statement, which drew heavily from earlier remarks that followed CBCs initial reporting, she claimed that she has always been honest about her family background and maintained that I dont know where Im from or who my birth parents are, and I will never know.

CBCs investigation included interviews with estranged family, as well as a birth certificate indicating that Sainte-Marie was born as Beverly Jean Santamaria to parents Albert and Winifred Santamaria in Massachusetts.

The Santamarias, who Sainte-Marie previously claimed were her adoptive parents, and baby Beverly had their race listed as white in the birth records.

In her statement, Sainte-Marie dismissed the inconsistencies as an attack on her character, saying she had no knowledge of the Massachusetts birth certificate.