Sacheen Littlefeather, a Beautiful Woman of Bravery, Passes at 75
Native American Icon, Sacheen Littlefeather passed away on October 2 after a weary battle with metastasized breast cancer.
At age 75, Littlefeather’s iconic activism speaks volumes about her legacy. Nearly 50 years ago, Sacheen Littlefeather cemented her name into Academy’s history forever. She refused Marlon Brando’s 1973 Oscar win on his behalf. Brando allowed Littlefeather to take his place in protest against the treatment of Native Americans in the film industry.
In a 1976 Bay Area-based interview with Father Miles Riley, Littlefeather explained that Native Americans were often portrayed negatively in films. Indigenous characters were depicted as drunks, savages, and thieves. As an Apache actress, she knew her people needed her voice to be heard by the masses, in hopes of change.
Unfortunately, she asked the audience to give love, kindness, and understanding toward Native Americans, it only inspired violence, anger, and boos. She recounts American actor, John Wayne, being restrained by security guards backstage to prevent him from assaulting her once she exited. Thankfully, she received a security escort from the stage.
"Sacheen Littlefeather’s impact shaped my perspective on what it means to be an Indigenous actor and activist. It also reaffirmed my responsibility to carry the voice of my community into the entertainment industry," writes @kdeveryjacobshttps://t.co/ZeHE0ehuSj
— TIME (@TIME) October 17, 2022
Once the Oscars commenced, Littlefeather’s activism tarnished her name in Hollywood and left her blacklisted. This inspired her to continue her activism and she did so for the remaining 49 years of her life. Although modern American society normalized activism long ago, the 1970s social climate did not. Littlefeather remains the first Indigenous woman of color to make a political statement in Academy history.
A month ago, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures finally apologized to Littlefeather for the mistreatment she endured as a result of her statements. Academy president, David Robin, issued a letter to Sacheen which highlighted her bravery and apologized for her experience.
Sacheen Littlefeather, Native American civil rights activist who famously declined Marlon Brando’s 1973 Best Actor Academy Award, dies at 75. pic.twitter.com/OlpsoItlCw
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) October 3, 2022
Littlefeather’s legacy of activism prompted a noticeable transformation of the industry for minorities. During a guest appearance on Jaqueline Stewart’s podcast And the Oscar Goes To, Sacheen gave insight into the motivation behind her bravery. She stated, “I felt that there should be Native people, Black people, Asian people, Chicano people — I felt there should be an inclusion of everyone.” According to Variety, her dream was actualized during the 2021 Oscars, where they nominated nine actors of color.
However, the fact remains that more needs to be done to bridge the gap between white actors and actors of color. Hopefully, Littlefeather’s legacy will inspire a new generation of activists in the industry. SACHEEN Breaking the Silence, a documentary where Sacheen breaks down her legacy, can be viewed here.
