NEW YORK, Aug. 16 (US): Nearly 50 years after Sacheen Littlefeather stood on the Oscars podium on Marlon Brando’s behalf to speak out about the portrayal of Native Americans in Hollywood films, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has apologized to her for the mistreatment she endured.
The Academy’s Museum of the Moving Image said Monday that it will host Littlefeather, now 75, for an evening of “Conversation, Healing and Celebration” on September 17.
When Brando won Best Actor for The Godfather, Littlefeather, in a suede dress and moccasins, took to the stage, becoming the first Native American woman to do so at the Academy Awards.
In a 60-second speech, she made it clear that Brando could not accept the award due to “the film industry’s treatment of American Indians today”.
Some of the audience booed her. John Wayne, who was behind the scenes at the time, was reportedly furious. The 1973 Academy Awards were held during a two-month occupation of Wounded Knee by the American Indian movement in South Dakota. In the years since, Littlefeather has said she has been ridiculed, discriminated against, and personally attacked for her brief appearance at the Academy Awards.
In making the announcement, the Academy Museum shared a message that David Rubin, president of the Academy, sent on June 18, about the famous Oscar moment. Rubin called Little Feather’s speech “a powerful statement that continues to remind us of the need for respect and the importance of human dignity.”
“The abuse I was subjected to because of this statement was unwarranted and unjustified,” Robin wrote. “The emotional burden you have experienced and the cost of your career in our industry is irreparable. For too long, the courage you have shown has not been recognized. For this, we offer our deepest apologies and sincere admiration.”
“It is very encouraging to see how much has changed since I did not accept an Academy Award 50 years ago,” Little Feather said in a statement.
“Regarding the academy’s apology to me, we Indians are very patient – it’s only been 50 years!” Littlefeather said. “We need to keep our sense of humor about this at all times. It is our way of survival.”
At the Academy Museum event in Los Angeles, Littlefeather will sit down to chat with producer Bird Runningwater, co-chair of the Academy’s Indigenous Alliance.
In a podcast earlier this year with Jacqueline Stewart, a film researcher and director of the Academy Museum, Little Feather reflected what prompted her to speak in 1973.
Littlefeather said, “I felt there had to be indigenous, black, Asian, and Chicano – I felt there had to be inclusion for everyone.”
“A rainbow of people who should take part in creating their own image.”