Almost 50 years later, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences officially apologizes to Littlefeather for the abuse she suffered during her speech and in the years that followed.
“The abuse you suffered because of that statement was unjustified and unjustified,” former Academy President David Rubin wrote in a letter to Littlefeather. “The emotional drain you have endured and the cost of your own career in our industry is beyond repair. For too long the courage you have shown has not been recognised. For this we offer both our deepest apologies and our sincere admiration.”
In a statement, Littlefeather called the upcoming event, where she will receive the apology in person, “a dream come true”.
“As for the Academy’s apology to me, we Indians are very patient people – it’s only been 50 years!” she said. “We always have to keep our sense of humor. It is our method of survival.”
Several Indigenous artists will perform for Littlefeather during the event, including Bird Runningwater, co-chair of the Academy’s Indigenous Alliance, and Virginia Carmelo, a descendant of the Tongva people, who will lead a land recognition.
“It’s deeply encouraging to see how much has changed since I didn’t accept the Oscar 50 years ago,” Littlefeather said.
Her speech drew boos and applause
When Brando won Best Actor for his leading role in The Godfather, he was absent. In his stead, he asked Littlefeather, then an actress and activist, to attend the ceremony – and to decline the award on his behalf.
Littlefeather took the stage quietly and calmly in a buckskin dress and solemnly introduced herself as an Apache woman and President of the National Native American Affirmative Image Committee. “(Brando) is very sadly unable to accept this very generous award and the reasons for that are the film industry’s treatment of American Indians today,” she said to a mixture of boos and applause, pausing and looking visibly annoyed. “I ask at this time that I did not disturb this evening and that in the future we will meet our hearts and understandings with love and generosity.” Brando also refused to accept the award due to the federal response to Wounded Knee when members of the American Indian Movement occupied the city of South Dakota but met opposition from federal law enforcement. Littlefeather said she promised Brando she wouldn’t touch the Oscar statuette, she told , A Frame. “But it was like looking into a sea of Clorox, you know, there were very few people of color in the audience.” She also said that John Wayne, the conservative western star who once said, “The Indians selfishly tried (the US) for himself,” she demanded, “to take her off the stage,” though he was restrained by security forces.
After the ceremony, Littlefeather said she was “silenced” and was struggling to find work in the film industry. She devoted much of her post-Oscar career to activism and founding performing arts organizations for Indigenous actors.
Despite the condemnation she received from some in Hollywood who disagreed with her defense of Native Americans, Littlefeather said she has received praise and support from leaders like Coretta Scott King and Cesar Chavez.
“I knew I did the right thing,” she told A.Frame.
Correction: This article has been updated to reflect that David Rubin is the past president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.