Sacheen Littlefeather passed away at aged 75. Ms Littlefeather was best known for her speech after refusing Marlon Brando’s Oscar for best actor in 1973. That night Sacheen Littlefeather suffered abuse and mockery.
All she wanted was to highlight what was going on at Wounded Knee.
After that speech, she was blacklisted in Hollywood. But she continued with her work in Native American activism. Her death comes after the Academy Awards issued a public apology for her treatment that night in March 1973. 50 years later.
She will be remembered for what she did for the indigenous community.
What happened at the 1973 Oscars?
The night of the Academy Awards 1973 is probably one of the most memorable moments in the history of the event. It is the night that young Sacheen Littlefeather, aged only 26, stood on the stage declining Marlon Brando’s Oscar for Best Actor.
Marlon Brando had sent Littlefeather on his behalf to decline the award should he be the one to win it. He did that to protest the treatment of Native Americans in the cinema. When she took to the stage to refuse the award, she was given 60 seconds to make her speech. She was booed and escorted off the stage.
Many did not know what to make of Littlefeather’s speech. Was this a joke? Was it real? However, many booed and abused her. It was very real.
However, Littlefeather’s actions have a very simple answer. The media blackout over the tense situation at Wounded Knee, in South Dakota.
Brando and Littlefeather’s actions explained
Marlon Brando was not only denouncing the treatment that Native Americans were facing in the movie industry. He was also protesting the media blackout over the situation at Wounded Knee. 200 Sioux and American Indian Movement activists seized the town of Wounded Knee.
The occupation of the town lasted 71 days.
They demanded that the US Government make good on the treaties from the 19th and early 20th century. Today, Wounded Knee, is still regarded as one of the longest civil disorder in the history of the US Marshals. But to the Native American population this siege was an inspiration.
By refusing this award, Brando hoped that he could raise awareness of what was happening at Wounded Knee.
A trailblazer for Native American rights
Sacheen Littlefeather passed away from breast cancer. However, before she passed, she looked back on what she had accomplished. She used the Academy Awards, a prestigious organisation, to make a political statement.
Not only that but she was the first woman of colour, and the first indigenous woman, to use the Academy Awards platform to make such a political statement.
Before that Littlefeather had participated in the occupation of Alcatraz in the early 1970s. Even after she was booed off the stage she dedicated herself to Native American’s rights. And 50 years later the Academy Awards was finally ready to apologise to the activist.
In a letter of apology, the Academy Awards apologised for the treatment she received the night of March 27 1973. Furthermore, the abuse that she faced after the speech was ‘unjust‘ and ‘unjustified.’
Her actions served as inspiration to Native American populations across the United States.