Sacheen Littlefeather

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Maria Louise Cruz (November 14, 1946 – October 2, 2022), better known as Sacheen Littlefeather, was an American-born actress and activist for Native American civil rights. After her death, she was accused by family members and journalists of falsely claiming to have Native American ancestry. Littlefeather represented Marlon Brando at the 45th Academy Awards (the Oscars) in 1973, where she — on Brando's behalf — declined the Best Actor award that he won for his performance in The Godfather. The favorite to win the award, Brando boycotted the ceremony as a protest against Hollywood's portrayal of Native Americans and to draw attention to the standoff at Wounded Knee. During her speech, the audience's response to Brando's boycott was divided between booing and applause. After the Academy Awards speech, Littlefeather worked in hospice care. She continued her activism for Native American issues, especially including healthcare and unemployment. She also produced films about Native Americans...

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