“My name is Sachin Littlefeather. I am an Apache and President of the National Native American Positive Image Committee. Today I present Marlon Brando who with great regret cannot accept this very generous prize. And the reasons for this are treatment reserved for American Indians today from the film industry and on television in movie reruns, as well as with the recent events of Wounded Knee. “It’s 1973, Marlon Brando just won an Oscar for playing Vito Corleone in Godfather and in his placeNative American actress and Little Feather activist. His speech, however, is greeted with derision and boos. Young woman he said that actor John Wayne had to be restrained by security guards from attacking her while other people were making offensive gestures. It’s been 49 years since that night, and it’s only today that the Academy has decided to issue a formal apology for this episode..

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the body that oversees the Oscars, issued a formal apology to Sachin Littlefeather, now 75. Former Academy President David Rubin he wrote her a letter of apology for the “unjustified and unjustified” abuses suffered, and it was announced that special programs would be organized in September to support it. Little Feather had the merit of raising awareness of the Wounded Knee protest under which the United States Army massacre of 290 Minikonjou, a group of Sioux Lakota, in 1890 went down in history. the place where the massacre took place. Added to this in those years was the stereotypical and racist way in which Hollywood represented Native Americans, a topic that Brando himself wanted to shed light on, leaving room for his activist friend. “The emotional burden you have experienced and the price you have paid in your career is irreparable,” Rubin wrote. “For too long the courage you have shown has not been recognized. For this, we offer you both our deepest apologies and our sincere admiration.”

“As far as the Academy’s apology goes, we Indians are a very patient people.”Littlefeather replied, “It’s only been 50 years! We must always keep a sense of humor. This is our way to survive.” “I never thought I would live to see this day,” he added. – It’s a dream come true. It’s great to see how much has changed since I didn’t win an Oscar 50 years ago.”