Nearly 50 years after she was booed at the Oscars, Sacheen Littlefeather has accepted an official apology from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.
The apology was issued back in June by David Rubin, current president of the Academy.
At the 1973 Oscars, Littlefeather had represented Marlon Brondo and rejected his award for Best Actor in The Godfather. Instead, she chose to use the period to raise awareness for Native American issues.
When Brando won the prize that night, Littlefeather rose to the stage. Brando “very regretfully cannot accept this very generous award and the reasons for this being are the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry,” she said.
She also referenced the 1973 occupation of Wounded Knee in South Dakota, where a standoff between Lakota activists and U.S. federal agents became a pivotal moment in the struggle for Native American rights.
Her speech was met with loud boos from the audience, while John Wayne was allegedly restrained from storming the stage.
She officially accepted the apology at an event titled “An Evening with Sacheen Littlefeather” held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 17.
“I am here accepting this apology. Not only for me alone but as acknowledgment, knowing that it was not only for me but for all of our nations that also need to hear and deserve this apology tonight,” she said.
“Now, I would like all the Indian people in this audience to stand. Look at our people, look at each other and be proud that we stand as survivors, all of us.”
“Please, when I’m gone, always be reminded that whenever you stand for your truth, you will be keeping my voice and the voices of our nations and our people alive,” Littlefeather added. “I remain Sacheen Littlefeather. Thank you.”
