The newly established Oscar Museum will hold a special tribute on September 17 for the American actor and Indian social activist Sacheen Littlefeather, aiming to pay tribute to her fifty years of discrimination, suppression, A formal apology for the injustice.
Back in time, at the 45th Academy Awards held at the Los Angeles Music Center on March 27, 1973, the Best Actor Award went to Marlon Brando for The Godfather, but actors Roger Moore and Liv After Uman announced the results, everyone found that Brando was not at the ceremony at all, but Shi Shiran, a young girl dressed in traditional Indian costumes, stepped onto the stage. She said that she was appointed by Brando, and she came here to refuse the award, and then read a statement of more than 700 words that had been prepared on his behalf. However, at the request of the producer of the awards ceremony, she only got 60 seconds to speak, so she could only play it on the spot according to what Brando wanted to express.

Presenters Roger Moore (first from left), Liv Uman (middle) and Feather

"Hello everyone, my name is Sahin Little Feather. I'm Apache and chair the Native American Good Image Commission. I'm Marlon Brando's representative tonight, and I'm here to convey his message to him at his request. A very long statement, but due to time constraints, I am afraid I will not be able to read it out in full for you, and will have to share it with the media at a later time. It is a pity that he cannot accept this important award from you because of the The way American Indians are still treated in the film industry today... (boos and applause interrupted her speech) in the old movies on TV, and the recent injury to the knee What happened in the town The iconic location of the horrific massacre of native Indians, confrontation with the local police force and FBI agents), I hope my actions this time have not swept your Yaxing, and I hope that one day in the future, love and kindness can make Our hearts and souls have come together and we have come to an agreement. On behalf of Marlon Brando, I would like to thank you all.”
Amid loud applause, she stepped backstage and witnessed many people making insulting gestures towards her. And the actor John Wayne, who is famous for Western films, has already been eager to try it there. Relying on the suppression of many security personnel, the two talents did not have a head-on conflict. In front of the media, she read Brando's eight-page speech in full, and the New York Times and other media also reprinted the full text on the second day of the award ceremony.

Sahin Feather presents Marlon Brando's hand-written speech at the Oscars.

Immediately after the Best Actor Award, the Best Actress Award was presented to actors Gene Hackman and Raquel Welch, who quipped: "Hope the Best Actress winner. There's no manifesto to make." And then Clint Eastwood came on stage to present the Best Picture award, and he joked that he gave the award, "I don't know if it's a representation of all those years of dying in John Ford. Directing the cowboys in those westerns".
Marlon Brando's approach failed to gain unanimous support from his colleagues in the circle and Oscar at the time. The academy specifically discussed countermeasures for this, and decided to not allow the situation to receive awards on behalf of him in the future. As for Little Feather, although this exposure made her a celebrity known to people all over the world (that Oscar was the first in history to be broadcast live around the world, with 85 million viewers), she was also slandered by a lot of malicious slanders. ; someone even made up a lie that she was not an Indian, but an actor that Brando paid for.
Almost a month after the award ceremony, the confrontation in Wounded Knee finally ended. Two policemen were injured, two Indians were killed and fourteen injured, and one other person was missing. Against the backdrop of intensified antagonism between Indians and government authorities across the United States, Feather has also become a target of attacks by white supremacists and those so-called "patriots," whom the FBI is said to have taken care of. Hollywood companies are absolutely not allowed to ask her for filming and endorsement.
In June of this year, outgoing Oscar chairman David Rubin sent a letter to Little Feather expressing his belated apology. "You have been unfairly treated for this statement, and the stress and lost job opportunities you have endured over the years can never be fully compensated. For a long time, everyone has ignored the amazing courage you showed at the time. I hope you We can accept our deepest apologies and our sincerest admiration."

Saxin·Little Feather

At the same time, the Oscars also invited Xiao Feather to record a podcast for their recently opened museum, participate in their Oscar oral history activities, and plan to hold a tribute to her at the Oscar Museum on September 17. "For me, it's a dream come true that Oscar can apologize to me in person. We Indians are a very, very patient people - it's only fifty years!" Little Feather said in a statement. "It's always important to us to have a sense of humor because that's what we Indians do."
Born in 1946, she is now 75 years old. Her real name is Marie Louise Cruz, her mother is of white descent and her father is of Apache Indian descent. When she was young, she was interested in modeling and acting careers, gave herself the stage name of Shaxin Xiaoyu, shot some TV commercials, and participated in many social activities. Through the introduction of director Coppola, she met Marlon Brando in 1972, and her life was completely changed.
On the day of the awards ceremony, Brando invited her to his home, told her about his big decision, handed her the eight-page speech he had just typed, and asked his personal secretary to take her to the venue. After 1973, she studied acting at school and participated in various Indian rights activities, but it was always difficult to win the favor of Hollywood. She formally participated in only a handful of film and television works. Later, she could only work in a nursing home to make a living.
In recent years, Shaxin Xiaoyu's physical condition is not ideal. Colon cancer, breast cancer and lung cancer have all come to her. She also knows that time is running out. Therefore, Oscar's belated apology is a personal sympathy for her. Words are significant.