Hello. My name is Sacheen Littlefeather.
I'm Apache and I am president of the National Native American Affirmative Image Committee.
I'm representing Marlon Brando this evening and he has asked me to tell you in a very long speech, which I cannot share with you presently because of time but I will be glad to share with the press afterwards, that he very regretfully cannot accept this very generous award.
And the reasons for this being are the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry – excuse me – and on television in movie reruns, and also with recent happenings at Wounded Knee.
I beg at this time that I have not intruded upon this evening and that we will in the future, our hearts and our understandings will meet with love and generosity.
Thank you on behalf of Marlon Brando
I'm Apache and I am president of the National Native American Affirmative Image Committee.
I'm representing Marlon Brando this evening and he has asked me to tell you in a very long speech, which I cannot share with you presently because of time but I will be glad to share with the press afterwards, that he very regretfully cannot accept this very generous award.
And the reasons for this being are the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry – excuse me – and on television in movie reruns, and also with recent happenings at Wounded Knee.
I beg at this time that I have not intruded upon this evening and that we will in the future, our hearts and our understandings will meet with love and generosity.
Thank you on behalf of Marlon Brando
Contributed by dq82 - 2022/8/16 - 11:17
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Speech of American Indian Rights activist Sacheen Littlefeather, on behalf of Marlon Brando (Oscar ceremony - 1973)
Music: the Indian summer
Sacheen Littlefeather (Piccola Piuma[1]), pseudonimo di Marie Louise Cruz (Salinas, 14 novembre 1946), è un'attrice statunitense
Era il 1972 quando Marlon Brando rifiutò il premio Oscar per la sua interpretazione del Padrino nell’omonimo film di Francis Ford Coppola e al suo posto l’anno successivo inviò sul palco per la cerimonia di consegna la 26enne indiana Apache che tenne un importante discorso contro la mistificazione dei popoli indigeni nei film western ma venne aggredita dal pubblico con una valanga di fischi e gesti razzisti, e poi minacciata di violenza appena scesa dal palco. L’Academy Museum of Motion Pictures si scusa con la donna, oggi 75enne, per il trattamento di quella sera e annuncia per il 17 settembre una conferenza intitolata "Una serata con Sacheen Littlefeather".
L'Academy si scusa con Piccola piuma, l'indiana del no all'Oscar di Marlon Brando