Sacheen Littlefeather, the Native American actress and activist who, in 1973, was booed when she refused an Oscar on behalf of Marlon Brando, died at the age of 75, the institution announced on Sunday October 2.
In the Twitter post announcing her passing, the Academy of Oscars quoted Sacheen Littlefeather herself: “When I am gone, always remember that each time you stand up for your truth, you will keep my voice and the voices of our nations and peoples alive. »
Sacheen Littlefeather, Native American civil rights activist who famously declined Marlon Brando’s 1973 Best Actor… https://t.co/CtfErVsBUm
Two weeks ago, the Academy of Oscars held a ceremony at its new museum in Los Angeles to pay tribute to Sacheen Littlefeather and publicly apologize for the treatment she suffered at the Academy Awards there. almost fifty years.
Sacheen Littlefeather, who is Apache and Yaqui, was booed at the 1973 Academy Awards – the first to be broadcast live worldwide – as she explained on Brando’s behalf why he didn’t want to accept his Oscar for best actor for The Godfather. The star had asked Littlefeather to decline the award for him in protest at the film industry’s treatment of Native Americans.
John Wayne almost assaulted him
“I went there, like a proud Indian woman, with dignity, courage, grace and humility”said Sacheen Littlefeather during the ceremony at the museum. “I knew I had to tell the truth. Some people can accept it. And some don’t. »
She said western star John Wayne had to be stopped from physically attacking her as she left the stage.
A commitment alongside blacks and Indians
Sacheen Littlefeather, a member of the Screen Actors Guild – the first union for film actors founded in 1933 – then struggled to find work in Hollywood, casting directors being warned not to employ him.
Asked by reporters ahead of the ceremony how she felt about waiting so long to receive an apology, Ms.me Littlefeather had been a philosopher.
“It’s never too late for an apology. It’s never too late for forgiveness.”she replied.