Marlon Brando Refuses Oscar; Supports Native-American Rights
As a protest in support of Native-American rights, the famed actor Marlon Brando refused to attend the annual Academy Awards ceremony to accept his Oscar for Best Actor for his performance in The Godfather.
In his place, Sacheen Littlefeather appeared and explained that Brando could not accept the award because of Hollywood’s portrayal of Native-Americans. Brando had participated in a Native-American “fish-in” protest on March 2, 1964.
Watch the Oscar ceremony: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QUacU0I4yU
Learn more: John R. Wunder, Retained by the People: A History of American Indians and the Bill of Rights (1994)
Learn more: Faye Cohen, et al., Treaties on Trial: The Continuing Controversy over Northwest Indian Fishing Rights (1986
Learn more: Stephen Pevar, The Rights of Indians and Tribes (2012)