Sacheen Littlefeather, the Native American actress and attorney best remembered for turning down the best actor Oscar for Marlon Brando at the 1973 Academy Awards, has died at 75. Robinson Herrera, an FSU professor who studies the social and cultural history of Latin America, reflects on Littlefeathers life and legacy as an indigenous figure.
“Native Americans continue to be the most likely to be killed by police, reservations continue to lack necessities like accessible health care, and roughly three in 10 Native American children drop out of school before graduating high school,” Herrera said.
Herrera believes it’s important to not only honor Littlefeather’s work, but to continue to push for indigenous equality, especially in Tallahassee where the Seminole tribe once lived.
“In many ways, Ms. Littlefeather can serve as a role model for those seeking to forge allies with Native and Indigenous peoples. Someone must listen to their concerns, take their voices seriously, and help dismantle the enduring stereotypes that cast Native Americans and indigenous peoples as ersatz relics of a false nostalgic past,” he said. “Resistance Ms. Littlefeather’s relentlessness reminds us all that despite centuries of oppression, Native and Indigenous peoples continue to fight for the equality denied them.”
The Academy took for him I tweet Monday, October 2, 2022, to announce the death of Littlefeather,
“Sacheen Littlefeather, Native American civil rights activist who famously turned down Marlon Brando’s best actor Oscar in 1973, dies at 75.”
In addition to their statement, the Academy also included a photo of Littlefeather with a quote from her saying:
“When I am gone, always remember that whenever you stand up for your truth, you will keep my voice and the voices of our nations and people alive.” She says, “I remain Sacheen Littlefeather. Thank you.”
The actress and activist officially announced her breast cancer diagnosis via Facebook on January 29, 2021, saying:
“I have metastasis of breast cancer that has gone to my right lung, in the fourth stage, in the terminal… Every day I look at it as a gift of life. As I look back on my life, I look back with pride that I did something that might have made a difference.”
During the 45th Academy Awards, Littlefeather made history by not only being the first Native American woman to ever take the stage at the Oscars, but also by dropping the Best Actor Oscar on Brando’s behalf for his performance in The Godfather.
Brando declined this award due to his frustration with the way indigenous individuals were portrayed in major Hollywood projects. Brando also stood in solidarity with Native individuals as a response to the AIM (American Indian Movement) occupation of Wounded Knee South Dakota.
This was a protest led by AIM and the Sioux people who resided on the Pine Ridge Reservation, asking the US government to reinvestigate Indian treaties that have been broken regarding native land. During the conflict, two Sioux men were shot dead by federal agents and a federal marshal was critically wounded among several other injuries and arrests.
In light of all these events, Brando approached Littlefeather the night before the ceremony to decline the award on his behalf. By this time, Littlefeather and Brando had known each other for just over a year after meeting through her neighbor, Francis Ford Coppola.
In her brief speech at the awards show, she addressed Brando’s reason for not attending, specifically mentioning the ongoing incident in North Dakota and the on-screen depiction of the natives. She concluded her monologue by personally addressing the audience by saying:
“I pray at this time that I have not interfered this evening and that in the future, our hearts and understanding will meet with love and generosity.”
Her speech was met with a mixture of cheers and applause from the audience. However, this action after the award show caused the young actress to be blacklisted, cutting short her fledgling acting career.
However, this summer, almost 50 years after her speech, Academy President David Rubin personally apologized for the way she was treated during the award ceremony, saying:
“The abuse you endured because of this statement was unwarranted and unwarranted,” Rubin wrote to Littlefeather in a letter. “The emotional burden you have experienced and the cost to your career in our industry is irreparable. For the long-term courage you have shown for this, we offer our deepest apologies and our sincere admiration.”
Last month, Littlefeather was able to be a keynote speaker at an event hosted by the Academy at the Los Angeles Film Museum to make a final impact on her community before her death.