Sacheen Littlefeather, who declined Marlon Brando’s Oscar for “The Godfather”The Academy of Motion Pictures announced that he died Sunday in his honor at the 1973 Academy Awards.
Littlefeather received an apology from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences for her treatment during the Oscars. Littlefeather attended the Academy Museum’s Sept. 17 presentation to receive the apology in person. After her short speech on Native American rights, she was booed by the audience and escorted from the stage.
“He very regretfully cannot accept this very generous award,”Littlefeather addressed the Academy Awards audience. “And the reasons for this being are the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry… and on television in movie re-runs, and also with recent happenings at Wounded Knee.”
Littlefeather, a daughter of Marie Louise Cruz, was born in Salinas, Calif. She became interested Native American issues while in college. Littlefeather also participated in the 1970 occupation at Alcatraz Island.
more to come…