Film academy apologises to Littlefeather who confronted harassment for 1973 Oscars speech on Native Americans

By Associated Press

NEW YORK: Nearly 50 years after Sacheen Littlefeather stood on the Academy Awards stage on behalf of Marlon Brando to talk about the depiction of Native Americans in Hollywood movies, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences apologized to her for the abuse she endured.

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on Monday mentioned that it’ll host Littlefeather, now 75, for a night of “conversation, healing and celebration” on Sept. 17.

When Brando received finest actor for “The Godfather,” Littlefeather, carrying buckskin gown and moccasins, took the stage, turning into the primary Native American girl ever to take action on the Academy Awards. In a 60-second speech, she defined that Brando couldn’t settle for the award because of “the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry.”

Some within the viewers booed her. John Wayne, who was backstage on the time, was reportedly livid.

The 1973 Oscars had been held in the course of the American Indian Movement’s two-month occupation of Wounded Knee in South Dakota.

In the years since, Littlefeather has mentioned she’s been mocked, discriminated towards and personally attacked for her temporary Academy Awards look.

In making the announcement, the Academy Museum shared a letter despatched June 18 to Littlefeather by David Rubin, academy president, concerning the iconic Oscar second. Rubin known as Littlefeather’s speech “a powerful statement that continues to remind us of the necessity of respect and the importance of human dignity.”

“The abuse you endured because of this statement was unwarranted and unjustified,” wrote Rubin. “The emotional burden you have lived through and the cost to your own career in our industry are irreparable. For too long the courage you showed has been unacknowledged. For this, we offer both our deepest apologies and our sincere admiration.”

Littlefeather, in an announcement, mentioned it’s “profoundly heartening to see how much has changed since I did not accept the Academy Award 50 years ago.”

“Regarding the Academy’s apology to me, we Indians are very patient people — it’s only been 50 years!” mentioned Littlefeather. “We need to keep our sense of humor about this at all times. It’s our method of survival.”

At the Academy Museum occasion in Los Angeles, Littlefeather will sit for a dialog with producer Bird Runningwater, co-chair of the academy’s Indigenous Alliance.

In a podcast earlier this 12 months with Jacqueline Stewart, a movie scholar and director of the Academy Museum, Littlefeather mirrored on what compelled her to talk out in 1973.

“I felt that there should be Native people, Black people, Asian people, Chicano people — I felt there should be an inclusion of everyone,” mentioned Littlefeather. “A rainbow of people that should be involved in creating their own image.”

NEW YORK: Nearly 50 years after Sacheen Littlefeather stood on the Academy Awards stage on behalf of Marlon Brando to talk about the depiction of Native Americans in Hollywood movies, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences apologized to her for the abuse she endured.

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on Monday mentioned that it’ll host Littlefeather, now 75, for a night of “conversation, healing and celebration” on Sept. 17.

When Brando received finest actor for “The Godfather,” Littlefeather, carrying buckskin gown and moccasins, took the stage, turning into the primary Native American girl ever to take action on the Academy Awards. In a 60-second speech, she defined that Brando couldn’t settle for the award because of “the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry.”

Some within the viewers booed her. John Wayne, who was backstage on the time, was reportedly livid.

The 1973 Oscars had been held in the course of the American Indian Movement’s two-month occupation of Wounded Knee in South Dakota.

In the years since, Littlefeather has mentioned she’s been mocked, discriminated towards and personally attacked for her temporary Academy Awards look.

In making the announcement, the Academy Museum shared a letter despatched June 18 to Littlefeather by David Rubin, academy president, concerning the iconic Oscar second. Rubin known as Littlefeather’s speech “a powerful statement that continues to remind us of the necessity of respect and the importance of human dignity.”

“The abuse you endured because of this statement was unwarranted and unjustified,” wrote Rubin. “The emotional burden you have lived through and the cost to your own career in our industry are irreparable. For too long the courage you showed has been unacknowledged. For this, we offer both our deepest apologies and our sincere admiration.”

Littlefeather, in an announcement, mentioned it’s “profoundly heartening to see how much has changed since I did not accept the Academy Award 50 years ago.”

“Regarding the Academy’s apology to me, we Indians are very patient people — it’s only been 50 years!” mentioned Littlefeather. “We need to keep our sense of humor about this at all times. It’s our method of survival.”

At the Academy Museum occasion in Los Angeles, Littlefeather will sit for a dialog with producer Bird Runningwater, co-chair of the academy’s Indigenous Alliance.

In a podcast earlier this 12 months with Jacqueline Stewart, a movie scholar and director of the Academy Museum, Littlefeather mirrored on what compelled her to talk out in 1973.

“I felt that there should be Native people, Black people, Asian people, Chicano people — I felt there should be an inclusion of everyone,” mentioned Littlefeather. “A rainbow of people that should be involved in creating their own image.”