Nearly 50 years later, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which oversees the Academy Awards, has released; A formal apology Human rights activist Sachin Littlefizer, a Native American, for the abuse, discrimination and attack she was subjected to during the award ceremony in 1973, after she expressed her protest against the ill-treatment of Native American filmmakers and their racist treatment.
A human rights activist on behalf of the late American actor Marlon Brando, who won Best Actor for his role in “The Godfather”, and as part of his protest to support Native American rights, did not show up and sent Littlefizer.
On stage, she introduced herself, saying that the actor “unfortunately cannot accept this very generous award, in protest of the filmmakers’ treatment of Native Americans.”
Then the voices of the audience rose. Some of them cheered for her, while others denounced what she says, and she was subjected to threats of arrest and physical assault.
60 seconds of courage
The whole thing came as a surprise to her, she said an interview With the Academy, she had been planning to watch the 45th Academy Awards on TV like everyone else when she got a call the night before the ceremony from Brando, who had introduced her through her neighbor, director Francis Ford Coppola, asking Brando to decline the award on his behalf if he won. out.
She actually attended only 15 minutes before the start of the concert, and Brando gave her the speech to give in front of the audience, but the plan was thwarted, and she was unable to deliver the speech after the concert director at the time, Howard Koch, ordered her to speak for only 60 seconds, and threatened her minutes before the presentation The prize is that the security men will arrest her if she exceeds the time allowed, so she improvised the short speech she gave.
During her appearance on the stage, she referred to the paper in which Brando wrote the speech, and said that she would not be able to deliver the 8-page speech due to lack of time, but that she would share it with the press after the ceremony.
During her speech, she drew attention to the current events – at that time – in the “Wended Ne” area of South Dakota, which witnessed the massacre in 1890, in which hundreds – mostly women and children – were exterminated from the Sioux tribes, among the Native American tribes, and in 1973, American Indian Movement activists occupied the site of the “Wended Ne” massacre and were surrounded by the police and the FBI for 73 days.
Native American activist and actress Sacheen Littlefeather (Apache/Yaqui/AZ) invites you to a special evening at the Academy Museum.
More details in the thread below ⬇️
(Photo: © Globe Photos/ZUMA Press) pic.twitter.com/WrvebVrO5n
— Academy Museum of Motion Pictures (@AcademyMuseum) August 15, 2022
A letter from the heart
In an interview with her newspaper,GuardianThe British Guardian said in 2021 that she had promised Brando that she would not touch the Oscar statue, adding, “I went up there like a warrior woman, with the goodness, beauty, courage and humility of my people, and I spoke from my heart.”
She focused on the audience’s reactions with their mouths open and shocked, “and they were quite a few,” and described looking at the audience as looking at “a sea of Clorox, there were very few people of color.”
The speech she gave is a memorable moment in the history of the Oscars and the history of live television, and after her demand for justice in a speech that did not exceed one minute, she was subjected to a severe personal attack that lasted for many years, and reported that she had also received threats from the federal government to close any talk shows or Shows on the air.
The activist – who was only 26 years old at the time and was the first Indigenous woman to stand on the Oscars stage – stated that actor John Wayne tried to physically attack her behind the scenes, but security forces managed to stop him, while other individuals behind the scenes made offensive gestures at her. .
to come late
Although nearly half a century has passed since the incident that affected Littlefizer’s life, now 75, she warmly welcomed the statement of apology and accepted the invitation to be a guest of honor for the Indigenous Healing Night hosted by the Academy Museum on September 17. September 2022.
She told The Hollywood Reporter:Hollywood Reporter) Commenting on the Academy’s statement she received privately last June, “I was so surprised, I never thought I would live to see the day when I would hear this.”
added He joked, “We Indians are very patient, it’s only been 50 years! We must maintain our sense of humor when we talk about these things, this is our way of survival.”
Expressing her happiness with the great change that has occurred during these years, she said, “It is a dream come true, and it is very encouraging to see how much has changed since I was not accepted to receive the Academy Award 50 years ago.”
deserved apology
In the Academy’s statement of apology, former Academy President David Rubin wrote, “The offense to which you were subjected by this statement was unwarranted and intolerable. I showed it, and for that, we offer our deepest apologies and sincere admiration.”
He described her appearance as “a strong stance that continues to remind us of the necessity and importance of respecting human dignity.”
The statement of apology will be read in full at the Academy Museum’s evening honoring Littlefizer, and you’ll engage in conversation with producer Bird Runingwater, co-chair of the Academy’s Indigenous Alliance.
In her last short speech on the Oscars stage, the activist wished that the future would bring her love, understanding and generosity for her suffering and what the indigenous people are subjected to, and after nearly half a century, her prayers were finally fulfilled and she witnessed a recognition of her courage and an apology for what she had been exposed to.