Sacheen Littlefeather has accepted an apology from the Oscars over the vitriol she endured during her 1973 Academy award speech.
In June, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences extended an apology to the 75-year-old actor over the negative reception she received at the ceremony.
Almost 50 years ago, Littlefeather (Apache/Yaqui/AZ) attended the 45th Academy awards in place of Marlon Brando, who was boycotting the ceremony over the portrayal of Native Americans in the film industry.
Littlefeather said that the late actor - who won the Best Actor award for his role in The Godfather - was unable to accept the "very generous award" because of "the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry and on television in movie re-runs, and also with recent happenings at Wounded Knee."
Watch her 1973 speech below:"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," she told the audience. "Thank you on behalf of Marlon Brando"
Brando's refusal was largely in part due to the US government's response to Wounded Knee, when members of the American Indian Movement occupied a South Dakota town but were met with opposition from federal law enforcement. The result was a 71 day siege that ended in the deaths of two Native Americans, per NLM.
At the time, her comments were met with some support, however, there were boos and jeers from members of the live audience who disagreed with her taking a political stand at the ceremony. It also led to the then-26-year-old being blacklisted from Hollywood.
According to Littlefeather, John Wayne was reportedly so bitter with her stance that he had to be "restrained" by security staff.
"I heard a disturbance from behind me as I was speaking up at the podium. I found out that he [Wayne] had been restrained by six security men from assaulting me while I was on that stage," she revealed.
"That was the most violent moment that had ever taken place at the Academy Awards," the Reel Injun star told Variety this month.
Fast-forward almost five decades later, and in a letter written to her by former Academy president David Rubin, the organization apologized for the "unwarranted and unjustified" abuse Littlefeather received.
"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," the letter continued.
And over the weekend, the Academy Awards held a special event for Littlefeather titled: An Evening With Sacheen Littlefeather.
The event was described as a "very special program of conversation, reflection, healing, and celebration", and also provided the actor to formally accept the apology.
The Johnny Firecloud star said: "I am here accepting this apology. Not only for me alone, but as acknowledgment, knowing that it was not only for me but for all of our nations that also need to hear and deserve this apology tonight."
"Now, I would like all the Indian people in this audience to stand. Look at our people, look at each other and be proud that we stand as survivors, all of us," she continued.
"Please, when I’m gone, always be reminded that whenever you stand for your truth, you will be keeping my voice and the voices of our nations and our people alive."
"I remain Sacheen Littlefeather. Thank you," she concluded.
