On this day in ...... 1973, Sacheen Littlefeather (right) became an internationally known name, for a time at least, when she appeared at the Academy Awards ceremony in lieu of Marlon Brando, named Best Actor for his performance in The Godfather, and announced "that he very regretfully cannot accept this very generous award," on account of "the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry" -- at which point some in the audience booed, others clapped -- "and on television in movie re-runs, and also with recent happenings at Wounded Knee," about which 2 very different accounts may be found here and here. A video clip of Littlefeather's speech is here.
