She had no legal recourse to contest their publication because she had signed a model release. FILE - Sacheen Littlefeather, a Native American activist, tells the audience at the Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, March 27, 1973, that Marlon Brando was declining to accept his Oscar as best actor for his role in "The Godfather." The Academy of Motion Picture Arts. [51] Littlefeather also said that she met Brando in Washington, D.C., where she was presenting to the Federal Communications Commission about minorities. ), the co-chair of the Academy's Indigenous Alliance. While some in the audience applauded Littlefeather, her presence at the awards ruffled feathers. She lives in San Francisco. In August, the Academy wrote a formal apology to her for the "emotional burden" that she carried for 49 years. The strange, sad tale of Sacheen Littlefeather:, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Los Gatos: Hundreds still without power as Black Road repair project finishes early. Shortly after Littlefeather's death, Navajo writer and activist Jacqueline Keeler interviewed Littlefeather's two sisters, who say that their family is not Native American and that Littlefeather fabricated her Native American ancestry. [18][19] In 1969, she joined the United Bay Indian Council. [13][14], Littlefeather said that around age 19, she spent a year in a psychiatric hospital after previously hearing voices that pushed her to a suicide attempt, recounting what happened during a three hour visual history interview in 2022 with the director of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. The Pascua Yaqui tribe in Arizona told this news organization that Littlefeather wasnt enrolled, while the White Mountain Apache hasnt responded to media inquiries about her membership. [5][101] In 1991, Littlefeather was reported to be recovering from radical cancer surgery. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/sacheen-littlefeather-academy-awards-2477981. Sacheen Littlefeather, Native American activist and actress, dead at 75 Other claims appear to have been exaggerated or are simply false, including that she worked with Mother Teresa on AIDS patients, that she participated in the Native American protest/occupation at Alcatraz and that John Wayne tried to attack her at her Oscars appearance. In 1973, Marlon Brando was awarded Best Actor at the Academy Awards, but he wasn't at the ceremony to accept it. When we think today about his words and what representation meansespecially to childrenone can't help but applaud his willingness to speak out in a time when it wasn't popular to do so. She famously rejected an Oscar on Marlon Brando's behalf in 1973 due, in part, to "the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry on television [and] in movie reruns," and was blacklisted by Hollywood as a result. Academy apologizes to Sacheen Littlefeather for treatment when she None of Littlefeathers relatives identified as Native American, Keeler said. It was a moving presentation, but it was a pretend Sacheen, said Orlandi, who lives in Marin County now. [93][94], As a staff member of the American Indian Center, Littlefeather participated in a conference about American Indians in media at the Hotel San Franciscan in 1978. Related Articles She's a friend of mine that I introduced to B She's an Indian princess. Then, it wasn't Brando who mounted the stage, but a 26-year-old Native American activist named Sacheen Littlefeather. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. [85][86], She described the Academy's apology to her as "a dream come true", and said that "we Indians are very patient peopleit's only been 50 years!" How forward-thinking Brando's decision was and the bravery Littlefeather displayed has only been recently recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Associated Press contributed to this report. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group), Chief Phillip Whiteman Jr., Rebecca Brando, Sacheen Littlefeather (born Marie Louise Cruz, 1946 - 2022) and Christian Bale attend the Red Nation Film Festival And Awards Ceremony at Laemmle's Ahrya Fine Arts Theatre on November 15, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. [9][8] Geroldine Cruz continued to operate the business after her husband's death in 1966. Sacheen Littlefeather is the subject of a new documentary titled 'Sacheen: Breaking The Silence. Keeler is known for her aggressive efforts to out alleged Pretendians, people who falsely claim to be Native American. "[83] Many years later, Littlefeather said that King called her to thank her for the speech. Sacheen Littlefeather: Oscars apologises to actress after 50 years ", "Sacheen Littlefeather Once Cheered Cowboys", "Littlefeather discards Oscar memories, finds new dances", "I Believe television program: Father Harry Schlitt and Sacheen Littlefeather", "Alcatraz Miss Chosen as Top Female Vampire", "Official Ceremony Marks Opening Of Fair Tonight", "It's Oscar TimeDo You Know Where Sacheen Littlefeather Is? She delivered a short speech on behalf of Brando declining acceptance of the award. Since the Native American hasnt been able to hear his voice heard or have his voice heard anywhere in the history of the United States, he shared, I felt that it was a marvelous opportunity for an Indian to be able to voice his opinion to 85 million people and I felt that he had a right to in view of what Hollywood has done to him.. [6], Littlefeather attended North Salinas High School from 1960 to 1964 and was active in 4-H, winning awards in home economics categories such as food preservation and fashion. By 1949, they had moved to Salinas and opened up their own business, Cruz Saddlery. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters, Sacheen Littlefeather was giddy as she hung up the phone in her San Francisco apartment in March of 1973. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images). The lawyer's letter claimed that Cruz was her married name. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Sacheen Littlefeather, who rejected Marlon Brando's Oscar in 1973, says [84], In June 2022, the Academy sent Littlefeather a statement of apology, in which the organization's then-president David Rubin wrote: "The abuse you endured because of this statement was unwarranted and unjustified. Sacheen Littlefeather, Who Delivered Marlon Brando's Oscar Rejection [applause][60], Moore escorted Littlefeather off-stage, past several people critical of her, and towards the press. Liv Ullmann and. My mom was a very sweet, kind person, Orlandi said. Marlon Brando . [5][37] Littlefeather was personally criticized for what was seen as exploitation of her fame,[38] but she explained that it was "strictly a business agreement" to earn the money needed to attend the World Theater Festival in Nancy, France. [92] She served as an advisor to PBS's Dance in America: Song for Dead Warriors (1984), which earned its choreographer, Michael Smuin, an Emmy Award. In 1964 during a fish-in, which was a protest to honor fishing rights on Puget Sound promised to Native American tribes, he was even arrested. According to Littlefeather, the institution was a "hell hole" and doctors used what she said was "psychodrama," role-playing her parents "while black-hooded figures listened in a dim-lit room" to help her "reconstruct memories of childhood abuse and abandonment. [47] An account from the night of the Oscar ceremony describes Francis Ford Coppola observing Littlefeather on a TV monitor backstage and stating "Sacheen Littlefeather. [2][3], Aspiring to become an actress, Littlefeather picked up several radio and television commercial credits and joined the Screen Actors Guild. But she also received death threats and was lied about in the media, including allegations that she wasn't Indian. When Brando was announced as the winner, Littlefeather took the stage dressed in full native regalia. Helene Hagan, a historian, anthropologist and former longtime friend, believes that Littlefeathers Native American claims and delusions of being a suffering, victimized woman began around this time. Riveting new S.F. Sacheen Littlefeather, the Native American activist who declined Marlon Brando's Oscar for "The Godfather" has died. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. People actually dont realize how deeply these people are injured by seeing themselves represented, he shared. Littlefeather walked onto the stage and raised her hand to decline the Oscar trophy that Moore offered her. (Photo by Beck Starr/FilmMagic/Getty Images). Sacheen Littlefeather on stage at AMPAS Presents An Evening with Sacheen Littlefeather at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on September 17, 2022, in Los Angeles, California. When he was nominated for an Oscar for his infamous portrayal of Don Corleone in "The Godfather," he refused to attend the ceremony. [123], Littlefeather studied orthomolecular nutrition and later said that she had "wanted to see where all the 'white' food came from" so she went to Sweden and lived in Stockholm. [1] After recovering, she received a degree from Antioch University in holistic health and nutrition with an emphasis in Native American medicine, a practice she credited with her recovery. Sacheen Littlefeather died Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022, at her home in Marin County, Calif. She was 75. The activist, who also worked as an actress, changed her name from Marie Louise Cruz to Sacheen Littlefeather after rediscovering her Native American heritage and becoming active in protests as a young woman. LIttlefeathers longtime Bay Area friend, Bridget Neconie, said she and others never doubted Littlefeather was Apache or Yaqui. Nearly 50 years later, the Native American actress has spoken out about how the stunning move ended her career. She had been instructed by Brando not to touch the Oscar and, rather, read an eight-page statement. [99] In the 1980s, she led prayer circles for Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American Catholic saint. Sacheen Littlefeather refuses to accept the Best Actor Oscar on behalf of Marlon Brando for his performance in "The Godfather" at the 45th annual Academy Awards in 1973. In a speech that shocked the country at the time, the 26-year-old Apache activist began by introducing herself and explaining that she was representing the "Godfather" actor. Legal Statement. He subsequently published a letter received from Littlefeather's lawyer, which asked him to clarify that Littlefeather was Native American, with a father who was "Yaqui and White Mountain Apache". Littlefeather, a White Mountain Apache, said Brando was "delighted" by the performance, which was a protest he supported on the depiction of Native Americans by the film industry, Deadlinereported on Monday. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the news on its social media accounts. [5], Littlefeather joined the audience minutes before the award for Best Actor was announced. Trouble was brewing even before Littlefeather arrived at the podium. [78], Littlefeather credited the speech with bringing attention back to the situation at Wounded Knee,[57] though news coverage of the standoff at the time makes little mention of Littlefeather or Brando. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Marlon Brando was one of those stars. [1], Littlefeather died at her home in Novato, California, on October 2, 2022, at the age of 75. Check out what's clicking today in entertainment. She was accompanied by Brando's secretary, Alice Marchak, and wore an Apache buckskin dress. She was 75. [2][3] Although some of her distant family may have been born in Pima/Oodham tribal territory in Sonora, Mexico, scholars have stated that actual tribal members in these communities would have been a minority during the time. [56] In other retellings of that night, Littlefeather said Koch told her that she had 60 seconds to deliver the speech or else she would be removed from the stage and arrested. Littlefeather and a handful of other Native American women had posed for Playboy in 1972, but the photos were never been published until October 1973, not long after the Academy Awards incident. At the 1973 Academy Awards, Sacheen Littlefeather refused the Academy Award for Best Actor on behalf of Marlon Brando who won for his role in The Godfather. Two weeks before her death, the Academy honored her at an event called "An Evening with Sacheen Littlefeather." [28] She said her mother and two sisters were subject to their father's rage and beatings. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Sacheen Littlefeather, activist who declined Brando's 'Godfather' Oscar [101] Although St. Mary's Hospital and Health Center did receive an Achievement Citation from the Catholic Health Association of the United States in 1986 for Traditional Indian Medicine's Role in the Carondelet Health System,[102] an article about the award only mentions the initiator of the program, Apache nurse Belinda Acosta, and the program coordinator, Ann Hubbert. Indian children seeing Indians represented as savages, ugly, nasty, treacherous, drunkthey grow up only with a negative image of themselves and it lasts a lifetime.. [20] She claims to have participated part-time in the occupation of Alcatraz in 1970, though this claim has been disputed. She is a member of the Colville Confederated Tribes. (AP Photo/File), Sacheen Littlefeather (born Marie Louise Cruz, 1946 - 2022) on stage at AMPAS Presents An Evening with Sacheen Littlefeather at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on September 17, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images), "The abuse you endured because of this statement was unwarranted and unjustified," David Rubin, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, wrote to Littefeather. All she was able to say was: The crowd cheered and booed. During her speech, the audience's response to Brando's boycotting was divided between booing and applause. Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanityfrom the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening. Littlefeather was a budding model and actress, and she agreed to represent him. Littlefeather passed away on Oct. 2 at the age of 75. Martha Ross is a Bay Area News Group features writer for The Mercury News and East Bay Times who covers everything and anything related to popular culture, society, health, womens issues and families. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences confirmed the . She was blacklisted in Hollywood. Sacheen Littlefeather, Native American Activist Who Declined Marlon I beg at this time that I have not intruded upon this evening, and that we will in the future, our hearts and our understandings will meet with love and generosity. Her research, which included records going back to 1850, uncovered no ties between the Cruz family of Mexico and the White Mountain Apache and Yaqui tribes. [23] Later accounts describe Coppola as Littlefeather's neighbor in San Francisco. Winning the Academy Award in 1973 for "The Godfather," Brando sent a woman clad in Apache dress named Sacheen Littlefeather to turn down the award on his behalf. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. It was televised to 85 million people. Keeler writes that the sisters state that their father, who was born in Oxnard, California, was of Mexican descent and had no tribal ties, nor was he related to the Yaqui tribes of Northern Mexico. [25] In 1988, she stated that her parents lived next door to her maternal grandparents, Marie and Gerold "Barney" Barnitz, while she and her two younger sisters lived with those grandparents. When Brando was announced as the best actor winner for his role in "The Godfather," Littlefeather took the stage to make a powerful and poignant statement about the depiction of Native . [61] Littlefeather stated in 2022 that some people mockingly used the tomahawk chop towards her as she was led by. The registry was founded in the early 1980s by Muscogee actor Will Sampson, who worked with the American Native Association to publish a directory of American Indians in the arts and entertainment fields. "The emotional burden you have lived through and the cost to your own career in our industry are irreparable. Gilio-Whitaker, Dina. In 1973, riding high off the success ofThe Godfather, actor Marlon Brando used his platform to give a voice to Native Americans. They also said that their father, who was born in Oxnard, California, was of Spanish-Mexican descent and had no tribal ties. For this, we offer both our deepest apologies and our sincere admiration," he added. Indian activists had taken over the Bureau of Indian Affairs building the year before and the siege of Wounded Knee was underway in South Dakota. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. [21] Around this time she adopted the name Sacheen Littlefeather. Sacheen Littlefeather: Native American activist and actor who refused "It was the first time anyone had made a political statement at the Oscars," Littlefeather said in the documentary, as quoted by the outlet. [2][3], Littlefeather was born Marie Louise Cruz on November 14, 1946, in Salinas, California. Did Sacheen Littlefeather share true story about John Wayne trying to attack her? The actress, who had breast cancer, died on Sunday . Orlandi and Cruz just want the truth to be known about their family. Sacheen Littlefeather, The Activist Who Declined Marlin Brando's Oscar Littlefeather, who just passed away on October 2, 2022 at age 75, was only 26 years old when she took the stage after Brando was announced as the winner of the Best Actor Award. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. She was 75 years old.. Marlon Brando had a long history of supporting various social movements dating back to at least 1946 when he backed the Zionist movement for a Jewish homeland. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Sacheen Littlefeather made history in 1973 when she turned down the Academy Award for Best Actor on behalf of "The Godfather" winner Marlon Brando.Almost 50 years later, Indigenous activist . Rather, he sent Apache activist Sacheen Littlefeather in his stead to reject the . Sacheen Littlefeather, the Native American activist who declined Marlon Brando's Oscar for The Godfather on his behalf in 1973, has died aged 75. For other uses, see, Last edited on 19 February 2023, at 08:33, Hollywood's portrayal of Native Americans, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Catholic Health Association of the United States, "Sacheen Littlefeather was a Native icon. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. "For too long the courage you showed has been unacknowledged. Bettmann/Getty Images Sacheen Littlefeather declining Marlon Brando's Oscar in 1973. Fox News Flash top entertainment and celebrity headlines are here. Sacheen Littlefeather, the Native American activist who declined Marlon Brando's Best Actor Oscar for him in a memorable 1973 speech, passed away on Sunday. [56][57][58] Koch recalled that he permitted her to stay and make her speech after she promised not to make a scene. [42] In an interview published just before her Academy Awards appearance, she stated that she had helped send two Indian nurses to Wounded Knee and that she had relinquished her United States citizenship, along with seven Native Americans. Fox News Flash top headlines for October 2, Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves take bumpy second flight after 'CHAOS' on Lufthansa plane: 'Wish me luck', Kelsey Grammer wont apologize for the 'difference' that Jesus has made in his life, Person roaming in 'Scream' Ghostface costume prompts multiple police calls, Kelsea Ballerini kisses Chase Stokes after criticizing ex amid nasty divorce, Why Kevin Bacon refuses to share the secret to his 35-year marriage to Kyra Sedgwick. Marshal Service as the eyes of the nation watched on the evening news. "[72][71] Michael Caine, the night's co-host, criticized Brando for "letting some poor little Indian girl take the boos" instead of "[standing] up and [doing] it himself". After Liv Ullmann and Roger Moore announced that Marlon Brando won Best Actor for his performance as Vito Corleone in "The Godfather", Littlefeather surprised audiences by walking on stage in his place. So, effectively what we hear at the podium is an improvised speech by the activist. or redistributed. Sacheen Littlefeather, Native American civil rights activist who In one of her first interviews after the speech, she mentioned that they met "through his interest in the Indian movement". [52] For the performance he was nominated for Best Actor at the 45th Academy Awards, which were presented on March 27, 1973, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, California. Littlefeather represented Marlon Brando at the 45th Academy Awards in 1973, where she on Brando's behalf declined the Best Actor award that he won for his performance in The Godfather. The San Francisco Ballet confirmed she worked as an advisor for the Emmy-winning 1984 telecast of Michael Smuins Song for Dead Warriors, and she served as a board member of the American Indian AIDS Institute. [2][3] Furthermore, Cruz says Littlefeather fabricated a Native identity because she thought it was more "prestigious" to be Native American than to be Hispanic. ", CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER. Sacheen Littlefeather, who declined Marlon Brando's Oscar, dies at 75 Marlon Brando _ AcademiaLab A group of heavily-armed Oglala Lakota and their American Indian Movement supporters overtook a trading post in the town of Wounded Knee, the site of the 1890 massacre. Sacheen Littlefeather, who declined Brando's Oscar, dies at 75 : NPR [20][35], Playboy magazine planned a spread called "10 Little Indians" in 1972, and one of the models was Littlefeather, but the spread was cancelled. And the reasons for this being are the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry, she said as the audience began to boo, and on television in movie reruns, and also with recent happenings at Wounded Knee.. Marlon Brando's Best Actor Oscar win for "The Godfather" | Sacheen Not only did he refuse the Academy Award for Best Actor, which he won for his role as Don Vito Corleone, but he sent Sacheen Littlefeather to the ceremony in his place. Jessica Stewart is a Contributing Writer and Digital Media Specialist for My Modern Met, as well as a curator and art historian. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. [2] According to Liza Black, an Associate Professor of history and Native American and Indigenous studies at Indiana University, and a citizen of Cherokee Nation, "Keeler proves Littlefeather was a troubled woman who made the stories of others her own". And Brando had decided to cast the 26-year-old aspiring actress as his Oscars proxy to reject the award, denounce the negative stereotyping of American Indians in entertainment and bring attention to the Wounded Knee Occupation protest in South Dakota. She couldnt have been more Native, said Neconie, an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Acoma of New Mexico and former UC Berkeley assistant director of undergraduate admissions. ', (Photo by Beck Starr/FilmMagic/Getty Images), Fox News Flash top entertainment headlines for April 25, Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves take bumpy second flight after 'CHAOS' on Lufthansa plane: 'Wish me luck', Kelsey Grammer wont apologize for the 'difference' that Jesus has made in his life, Person roaming in 'Scream' Ghostface costume prompts multiple police calls, Kelsea Ballerini kisses Chase Stokes after criticizing ex amid nasty divorce, Why Kevin Bacon refuses to share the secret to his 35-year marriage to Kyra Sedgwick. [4] She said she chose the name Sacheen because that was the name her father called her before he died, and Littlefeather came from the feather she always wore in her hair. I never saw my sister being beaten by my dad. [105][106][107], In 1988, she served as the secretary and community member-at-large on the interim board of directors of the American Indian AIDS Institute of San Francisco. [4][5] Her mother, Geroldine Marie Cruz (ne Barnitz), was a leather stamper of French, German, and Dutch descent, and was born and raised in Santa Barbara, California.