Sacheen Littlefeather

Sacheen Littlefeather went onto the Academy Awards stage on behalf of Marlon Brando to speak about the depiction of Native Americans in Hollywood.

Rubin called Littlefeather’s speech “a powerful statement that continues to remind us of the necessity of respect and the importance of human dignity.” For too long the courage you showed has been unacknowledged. The 1973 Oscars were held during the American Indian Movement’s two-month occupation of Wounded Knee in South Dakota.

Almost 50 years after she was booed on the Oscars stage for declining Marlon Brando's award on his behalf, Sacheen Littlefeather has received an apology ...

"We need to keep our sense of humor about this at all times. The Academy released the letter as it announced that Littlefeather, now 75, has been invited to speak at its film museum in Los Angeles on September 17. "For too long the courage you showed has been unacknowledged.

Littlefeather famously took to the stage to decline Marlon Brando's 1973 best actor Oscar for The Godfather, at his request.

“Sacheen invites you to a special celebration of live Native American Indian performances featuring a long-awaited statement of apology from the Academy”. The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures says it will host an evening of “conversation, healing and performances” hosted by Native American activist and actress Sacheen Littlefeather. Native American activist and actress Sacheen Littlefeather (Apache/Yaqui/AZ) invites you to a special evening at the Academy Museum.

Actress, activist Littlefeather receives apology for treatment during and after speech about portrayal of Native Americans on film - Anadolu Agency.

For this, we offer both our deepest apologies and our sincere admiration," Rubin said. Native American activist and actress Sacheen Littlefeather (Apache/Yaqui/AZ) invites you to a special evening at the Academy Museum.— Academy Museum of Motion Pictures (@AcademyMuseum) Nearly 50 years later, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences apologized to Native American actress and activist Sacheen Littlefeather for her treatment at the 45th Academy Awards in 1973, when she spoke up for Indigenous rights on stage.

Actor appeared at 1973 Oscars to decline Marlon Brando's best actor award at his request.

For too long the courage you showed has been unacknowledged. For this, we offer both our deepest apologies and our sincere admiration.” Rubin called the actor’s speech “a powerful statement that continues to remind us of the necessity of respect and the importance of human dignity”. “On September 17th, join Sacheen Littlefeather at the Academy Museum for a night of conversation, healing, and performances as we reflect on the impact of her speech at the 45th Academy Awards (currently on view in our Academy Awards History gallery),” the organisation tweeted. The actor, who was booed by the audience, explained that Brando could not accept the award due to “the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry”. The event will feature a formal apology to the actor who suffered decades of abuse within the industry following her appearance at the 1973 Oscars. The museum which is hosting the event belongs to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organisation that awards the Oscars.

Littlefeather made a speech on behalf of Marlon Brando about the depiction of Native Americans in Hollywood films at the 1973 Oscars.

“A rainbow of people that should be involved in creating their own image.” In her 60-second speech, she explained that Brando would not be accepting the award due to "the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry." However, Littlefeather said she has been personally attacked, discriminated against, and mocked for her brief appearance at the awards ceremony. The event took place during the American Indian Movement's two-month occupation of Wounded Knee in South Dakota, and was televised live to 85 million people. For too long the courage you showed has been unacknowledged. Westerns star John Wayne was reportedly furious and had to be restrained backstage by six security guards during the speech.

Nearly 50 years after her speech on behalf of Marlon Brando about depiction of Native Americans, academy apologises for 'unwarranted and unjustified' ...

In 2021, Littlefeather told the Guardian that she arrived at the ceremony only a few minutes before Brando’s award was announced, and had been given an eight-page speech by Brando to read if he won. I went up there with the grace and the beauty and the courage and the humility of my people. The Oscars took place in March, and the occupation ended in May after agreement with federal authorities to disarm. However, the show’s director Howard Koch told her she could only have 60 seconds and so she improvised a speech instead. “I never thought I’d live to see the day,” she added. The emotional burden you have lived through and the cost to your own career in our industry are irreparable.

In 1973, Sacheen Littlefeather was booed off stage when she gave a speech at the Academy Awards about the depiction of Native Americans in Hollywood films ...

Rubin said: “For too long the courage you showed has been unacknowledged. Nearly 50 years after Littlefeather stood up at the Academy Awards and was booed by some audience members for her speech on Native American depiction in films, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has apologised to her for what she experienced. Sacheen Littlefeather, wearing moccasins and a buckskin dress, took to the stage of the Academy Awards in 1973, becoming the first Native American woman to do so. However, she is perhaps best known for representing Marlon Brando at the 45th Academy Awards in 1973 where she spoke out against the stereotypical portrayal of Native Americans in the film industry. Almost 50 years after Littlefeather’s speech on behalf of Marlon Brando about Native American depiction in the film industry, the Academy has apologised for the ‘unwarranted’ abuse she experienced. In 1973, Sacheen Littlefeather was booed off stage when she gave a speech at the Academy Awards about the depiction of Native Americans in Hollywood films while also refusing the best actor award given to Marlon Brando. Here’s what happened.

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.