Sacheen Littlefeather

Nearly 50 years after Sacheen Littlefeather stood on the Academy Awards stage on behalf of Marlon Brando to speak about the depiction of Indigenous people ...

For this, we offer both our deepest apologies and our sincere admiration." "The abuse you endured because of this statement was unwarranted and unjustified," wrote Rubin. "The emotional burden you have lived through and the cost to your own career in our industry are irreparable. In making the announcement, the Academy Museum shared a letter sent June 18 to Littlefeather by David Rubin, then academy president, about the iconic Oscar moment.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences apologized to Sacheen Littlefeather, who declined an Oscar on Marlon Brando's behalf and was ostracized in ...

“I could not and was not allowed to speak for myself,” she said. In an interview on “The Dick Cavett Show” several months later, Brando said he was embarrassed by how Littlefeather was treated. She was let in, but the show’s producer said she could not read the speech. “When I was at the podium in 1973, I stood there alone.” She introduced herself and explained why she was there. She said she was there as Brando’s representative. He specifically instructed her not to touch the statuette, she recalled. “The abuse you endured because of this statement was unwarranted and unjustified. It was the first time a Native American woman had stood on the Oscars stage, according to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and her statement on behalf of Brando created shock waves. In 2020, it introduced diversity and inclusion standards that films must meet to qualify for a best picture nomination, following criticism that the Oscars were dominated by White actors and filmmakers. Despite the efforts, Hollywood continues to struggle with representation of women and ethnic minorities. The year was 1973.

The Apache activist and actress was booed onstage in 1973 after she refused the best actor award on Marlon Brando's behalf and criticized Hollywood for its ...

She said some audience members did the so-called “tomahawk chop” at her and that when she went to Mr. Brando’s house later, people shot at the doorway where she was standing. “When I went back to Marlon’s house, there was an incident with people shooting at me,” she said. “For too long the courage you showed has been unacknowledged,” Mr. Rubin wrote. Ms. Littlefeather said she had little information about how the night would work, but Mr. Brando had given her a speech to read if he won. She paused when a mix of boos and cheers erupted from the audience. As an editor at The Times, I’ve worked with many of them, and I can tell you these are thoughtful people who have dedicated themselves to one thing: helping you understand the world. The former president of the Academy, David Rubin, wrote in the apology to Ms. Littlefeather that the abuse she faced because of the speech was “unwarranted and unjustified.” When Ms. Littlefeather, then 26, spoke, some of the audience cheered her and others jeered. Our reporters produce hundreds of original articles every day, from places as far afield as Kyiv, London, Uvalde and Sacramento. These journalists travel widely to get as complete a picture as they can. “And I focused in on the mouths and the jaws that were dropping open in the audience, and there were quite a few,” she told the Academy. “But it was like looking into a sea of Clorox, you know, there were very few people of color in the audience.” They are committed to remaining curious, keeping an open mind and seeking out every voice. I’d like to encourage you to support journalism like this by becoming a subscriber.

In 1973, Littlefeather represented Marlon Brando at the Oscars, declining his Best Actor award for "The Godfather."

"The Academy also wanted to right a wrong, and this was a wrong. And the fact that it took 50 years to figure that out, well, that's on their bad, but the fact that they are fixing it and that there is an Indigenous Alliance in the Academy is so important," said Kevin Frazier, of "Entertainment Tonight." Now, the Academy has issued an apology for the "unwarranted and unjustified" abuse she suffered that night and in the years and decades afterward.

Motion Picture Academy officials have apologized to Sacheen Littlefeather for abuse she was subjected to when she declined an Academy Award on behalf of ...

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Sacheen Littlefeather became the first Native American to take the stage at the Academy Awards in 1973, on behalf of Marlon Brando. Her passionate 60-second ...

The first Native American Indian woman, the first woman of color to ever make a statement at the Academy Awards, telling the truth about the way that it really is. "I beg at this time I have not intruded upon this evening and that we will, in the future, our hearts and our understandings will meet with love and generosity. Littlefeather was nearly hauled off by actor John Wayne, she said in an interview with the BBC. That I had done something, that I was the first to make a statement, a political statement. For too long the courage you showed has been unacknowledged. The 1973 Oscars witnessed a few firsts in its history as Littlefeather, then 26, became the first Native American to take the stage at the Academy Awards. It’s our method of survival,” Littlefeather said in a statement released by the Academy. And his speech, read by Littlefeather, was but a part of that protest. He wrote, “The emotional burden you have lived through and the cost to your own career in our industry are irreparable.” Littlefeather went onstage on behalf of Marlon Brando who was announced the winner for his performance in The Godfather. She went on to say that “Brando very regretfully cannot accept this very generous award. She opened the speech by saying, "I'm Sacheen Littlefeather.

Sacheen Littlefeather, a Native American activist and actor, was booed off stage at the Oscars in 1973, when she appeared on behalf of Marlon Brando, ...

Under the 1956 Relocation Act funding plan, more than half of the US’ Native American population had been urbanised and assimilated to varying degrees, according to official records. Ultimately, the AIM was disbanded in 1978. In the 19th century, many Native American communities were forcibly moved to reservations, often hundreds of miles away from their original homes. When European settlers first arrived in North America in the 15th century, the continent was occupied by Native American communities, each of which had their own distinct linguistic, cultural, social and economic traits. In 1934, the Indian Reorganization Act (IRA) became law, recognising limited sovereignty for several tribes and making it mandatory for councils to be elected to run reservations. On May 8, the protestors surrendered after US officials promised to investigate their complaints. In an iconic 60-second speech — the first political statement ever made at the Oscars — Littlefeather said that Brando could not accept the award because of “the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry”. By 1960, 61 Native American tribes had been ‘terminated’, according to minorityrights.org. In 1973, Littlefeather, then 26, became the first Native American woman to take the stage at the Academy Awards. Several people were seen using the ‘Tomahawk chop’ — a derogatory arm-waving gesture considered racist and dehumanising for Native American people. He wrote, “The emotional burden you have lived through and the cost to your own career in our industry are irreparable.” Wearing a traditional buckskin dress, she appeared on behalf of Marlon Brando, who had won the best actor award for The Godfather.