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She was booed off the stage of the 1973
ceremony after 60 seconds for the remarks, which drew attention
to an Indigenous people's protest at Wounded Knee, South Dakota.
She was then professionally boycotted by the film industry for
decades.
On Saturday evening Littlefeather, now 75, was met with
thunderous applause as she took the stage to reflect on her
protest at an event in her honor at the Academy Museum of Motion
Pictures in Los Angeles.
"Well, I made it. It took 50 years," she said.
The event, "An Evening with Sacheen Littlefeather" featured live
Native American performances and was streamed on the museum's
YouTube page.
Her friend Brando boycotted the 45th Oscars ceremony because of
the stereotypes of Native Americans in films and television. The
winner of best actor for portraying Vito Corleone in "The
Godfather" asked Littlefeather to attend in his place.
In addition to the boos, Littlefeather reminisced on Saturday,
people made tomahawk chop gestures and mocked “Indian” whoops.
"Big John Wayne was ready to attack me. He had to be held back
by six security guards," she said.
Saturday's program included the reading of an apology letter to
Littlefeather for her treatment by the Academy of Motion Picture
Arts and Sciences.
"As you stood on the Oscars stage in 1973 to not accept the
Oscar on behalf of Marlon Brando, in recognition of the
misrepresentation and mistreatment of Native American people by
the film industry, you made a powerful statement that continues
to remind us of the necessity of respect and the importance of
human dignity," the letter says.
She responded, "I am accepting this apology not only for me
alone, but an acknowledgement not only for me, but all of our
(Native American) nation. Our nation needs to hear this
apology."
(Reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta; Editing by William Mallard)
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