Marlon Brando’s Oscar,…
Sacheen Littlefeather, Activist Who Took the Stage to Decline MarlonBrando’s Oscar, Dies at 75
Sacheen Littlefeather, the activist for Native Americans who declined MarlonBrando’s Oscar for “The Godfather” on his behalf at the 1973 Academy Awards,died Sunday at 75, the Academy of Motion Pictures said. She had been sufferingfrom breast cancer.
In June, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences apologizes toLittlefeather for her treatment at the Oscars that night. Littlefeatherattended an in-person presentation of the apology at the Academy Museum onSept. 17.
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At the Oscars, she was only given 60 seconds to read her speech on NativeAmerican rights, and was then escorted off the stage with audience membersbooing.
“He very regretfully cannot accept this very generous award,” Littlefeathersaid to the Academy Awards audience in . “And the reasons for this being arethe treatment of American Indians today by the film industry… and ontelevision in movie re-runs, and also with recent happenings at Wounded Knee.”
She was allowed to read her full speech at a later press conference, and itwas printed in the New York Times. Raquel Welch, Clint Eastwood and Oscar co-host Michael Caine were among those who criticized her on-camera fordisrupting the ceremony.
Littlefeather, born Marie Louise Cruz in Salinas, Calif., became interested inNative American issues in college and participated in the 1970 occupation ofAlcatraz Island, adopting her name during that time.
After college, she joined SAG and reportedly with Brando, who took an interestin Native American issues, through Francis Ford Coppola who likeLittlefeather, lived in San Francisco.
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In a recent interview, Littlefeather told variety what it was like to attendthe Oscars on Brando’s behalf.
“It was my first time at the Academy Awards. I made it through my firsthurdle, promising Marlon Brando that I would not touch that Oscar. But, as Iwalked off that stage, I did in the ways of courage, honor grace, dignity andtruthfulness. I did so in the ways of my ancestors and the ways of Indigenouswomen.
Sacheen Littlefeather holds a written statement from actor Marlon Brandorefusing his Best Actor Oscar on stage at the Academy Awards in 1973.
“I was met with the stereotypical tomahawk chop, individuals who called at me,and I ignored all of them. I continued to walk straight ahead with a couple ofarmed guards beside me, and I held my head high and was proud to be the firstIndigenous woman in the history of the Academy Awards to make that politicalstatement.
“At that time in 1973, there was a media blackout on Wounded Knee and againstthe American Indian Movement that was occupying it. Marlon had called them inadvance and asked them to watch the Academy Awards, which they did. As theysaw me, up on stage, refusing that Academy Award for the stereotypes withinthe film industry, and mentioning Wounded Knee in South Dakota, it would breakthe media boycott.”
Littlefeather also recently reflected on death, telling variety , “When wedie, we know that our ancestors are coming to give. We know that we’re goingto that spirit world from where we came. We take this as a warrior with prideand not defeat, looking forward to joining our ancestors who are going to bethere with us at our last breath and they’re going to welcome us into thatworld on the other side and have a big celebration for us.”
A documentary about her life and activism, “Sacheen Breaking the Silence,” wasreleased in 2021.
Though she had a few small roles in films including “The Trial of Billy Jack,”Littlefeather said she was blacklisted in Hollywood after the Oscars, andreturned to San Francisco to continue her activism and work in theater andhealth care.
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