Name | Sacheen Littlefeather |
Net Worth | $1.5 million – $2 million |
Date Of Birth: | November 14, 1946 |
Place Of Birth: | Salinas, CA |
Education:: | North Salinas High School |
Nationality: | American |
Died: | October 2, 2022, Novato, CA |
Age: | 75 years old |
Sacheen Littlefeather Died
Native American activist Sacheen Littlefeather has died aged 75. This is reported by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organization behind the Oscars. She was booed in 1973 when she refused her Oscar on behalf of Marlon Brando in protest of the film industry’s treatment of Native Americans. The Academy recently apologized to Littlefeather, nearly 50 years after the incident.
Littlefeather passed away last Sunday at her home in Novato, California. The Academy announced her death via Twitter. In the post, the organization quoted Littlefeather as saying, “When I’m gone, always remember that when you stand for your truth, you keep my voice and the voices of our nations and peoples alive.”
Two weeks ago, the Academy held a ceremony at its new Los Angeles museum to honor Littlefeather. During the museum ceremony, the activist looked back on the Oscars in 1973. “I went in a proud Native American woman, with dignity, courage, grace and humility. I knew I had to tell the truth. Some people can accept it. And some people can’t,” it sounded at the time.
The organization apologized for its treatment at the Oscars last June. “The abuse you have suffered because of this statement was unintentional and unjustified,” read the Academy letter sent to Littlefeather. “The courage you have shown has gone unrecognized for far too long. For this, we offer our sincere apologies and express our deepest admiration.” The Native American responded with a wink at the time: “We Native Americans are a very patient people. It only lasted fifty years. We must always maintain our sense of humor in this regard. It’s our survival mechanism.”
Littlefeather was booed nearly fifty years ago when she refused to accept her statue on behalf of Marlon Brando. Brando had asked the activist not to accept her award for her role in ‘The Godfather. She felt that Native Americans were treated badly by the film industry. The move was met with considerable criticism. John Wayne, who was backstage at the time, was reportedly furious. And in the years that followed, Littlefeather was mocked, discriminated against and personally attacked. She also found it difficult to get a job because of her heritage. The activist was a member of the first film actors’ union founded in 1933, the Screen Actors Guild.