Sacheen Littlefeatherhas died from metastasized breast cancer. She was 75.

“Littlefeather dedicated her life to the health and wellness of Native people everywhere,” reads a press release. “She was known for her sense of humor, quick wit, and fierce advocacy for Native American and Indigenous communities.”

Born on Nov. 14, 1946, in Salinas, California, Littlefeather graduated as valedictorian from Antioch University after studying wholistic health and nutrition with a minor in traditional Indian medicine (herbology), according to her obituary. As early as her college days, Littlefeather actively participated in Indigenous spaces and took part in the1969 occupation of Alcatraz Islandin San Francisco, according tohistory.comand her obituary.

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Oscars Brando A woman in Native American Indian dress, who indentified herself as Sacheen Littlefeather, tells the audience at the Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, that Marlon Brando was declining to accept his Oscar as best actor for his role in “The Godfather.” Littlefeather said Brando was protesting “the treatment of the American Indian in motion pictures and on televison, and because of the recent events at Wounded Knee ACADEMY AWARDS BRANDO, LOS ANGELES, USA

Littlefeather worked with the Indian Health Service in conducting workshops on wholistic health throughout the country for indigenous tribes and as a wholistic health nutritionist for the Kiowa tribe, where she also wrote a “Food as Medicine” column for the Kiowa Indian Newspaper, her obituary states. In addition, she worked for two years as a public service director at KFRC Radio in San Francisco and was a model and actress.

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Littlefeather is best known for appearing on behalf of actor Marlon Brando at the45th Academy Awardsin 1973. Speaking for the star, she refused to accept his Best Actor award forThe Godfatherdue to the film industry’s treatment of Native Americans. The act of protest famously received mixed reactions from thestar-studded audience.

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 17: Sacheen Littlefeather on stage at AMPAS Presents An Evening with Sacheen Littlefeather at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on September 17, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

“She did so unselfishly, in efforts to end the stereotyping of Native people in the film, television, and sports industries,” Littlefeather’s obituary reads. “As a result, Sacheen was professionally boycotted, personally harassed and attacked, and discriminated against for nearly 50 years.”

Close to half a century later, the Academyoffered Littlefeather a public apologyand honored her at an event called “An Evening with Sacheen Littlefeather” held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles on Sept. 17.

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Sacheen Littlefeather Activist and actress Sacheen Littlefeather takes part in a panel discussion on the PBS special “Reel Injun” at the PBS Television Critics Association summer press tour in Beverly Hills, Calif Summer TCA Tour PBS, Beverly Hills, USA

“Even though many people were judgmental of Sacheen and treated her in a negative way, she forgave them all, did not hold grudges, and moved on with her life in a positive way, showing everyone love and forgiveness,” her obituary adds.

A press release states that Littlefeather “was known for her sense of humor, quick wit, and fierce advocacy for Native American and Indigenous communities.” Her husband, Charles Koshiway, died of blood cancer in November 2021.

A Catholic Requiem Mass will be held at St. Rita Church in Fairfax, California, later this month, according to the press release.

Prior to Littlefeather’s death, she asked that mourners make donations to theAmerican Indian Child Resource Centerin Oakland, California, rather than send flowers.

source: people.com